INDIA'S

pointoutnews.com july 2014
Vol-1 Issue-6 50
i n s i d e
DIPLOMAtiC coup
IN IRAQ
PEOPLE’S
PANCHAYAT
INDEPENDENT
INDIA'S
BIGGEST MEDICAL SCAM
1
RNI NO: DELENG/2014/55786

Point
Out
2
july 2014

RNI NO: DELENG/2014/55786
Point
Out
pointoutnews.com JULY 2014
VOL-1 ISSUE-6 50
1
I N S I D E
DIPLOMATIC COUP
IN IRAQ
PEOPLE’S
PANCHAYAT
INDEPENDENT
INDIA'S
BIGGEST MEDICAL SCAM
cover story
WILL shivraj SURVIVE
THE MPPEB SCAM
The man, who just six months
ago led-BJP to an unprecedented
third-time win in the state and
was pitted by a strong section
of BJP as an alternate to Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, finds his
credibility blown away by scams
into Pre-Medical Test (PMT) and
job recruitment tests conducted
by Madhya Pradesh Professional
Examination Board (MPPEB).
DIPLOMAtiC coup IN IRAQ
P 08
Must read
Test Drive P 52
www.pointoutnews.com
Editor-in-Chief – Dr. Shiv Kumar Rai
Consulting Editor – Surya Gangadharan
Feature Editor – Suman
Editor-South – Vijay Grover
Special Correspondent – Aarti
Principal Correspondent – Bipin sasi
Correspondents – Ranjith Pasam,
Abhay Kumar
Design – Manaswi
Photo Editor – Sanjeev
Editorial researcher - Kriti
AD/SALES & CIRCULATION
+91- 9999280060, 011 23320740
Business Head- South
V Sunil Kumar +91- 9160834356
RNI NO: DELENG/2014/55786
Owned, Printed and Published by
Dr. Shiv Kumar Rai from 1201, Nirmal
Tower, Barakhamba Road, Connaught
Place, New Delhi-110001.
Phone- 011 23320740
All rights reserved. Reproduction in any
manner is prohibited.
Editor - Dr. Shiv Kumar Rai*
*(Responsible for the selection of news under the PRB Act)
Printed At M.P.Printers, B-220, Phase-II,
Noida, UP
To Subscribe log on to
www.pointoutnews.com or
email to contact@pointoutnews.com
Volume 01 Issue 6
For the month – July 2014
Total No. of pages 64+Covers
Head Office
1201, Nirmal Tower, Barakhamba Road,
Connaught Place, New Delhi-110001
Phone- 011-23320740
3
Point Out Gallery
P 36
By Invite
ACCOUNTABILITY IS
THE KEY TO A VIBRANT
DEMOCRACY
cinema
PREITY ZINTA RULES
OUT SELLING KINGS
XI STAKE
P 64
P 32
P 34
Health P 58
Art and Culture P 60
Forecast P 61
Book Review P 62
Spiritual Touch P 66
VILLAGE
ROOTS
PEOPLE’S
PANCHAYAT
P 38
P 46
Redefining
Governance
THE GENERIC MAN
DR SHAMIT SHARMA

Point
Out
Your Voice
• Sushma Swaraj
‘We are
convinced
that India’s
development
cannot be complete
and sustainable
unless we succeed in
building productive
partnerships with our
immediate neighbours, We will pursue
a policy of active engagement with our
neighbours with the aim of ensuring
security, stability and prosperity for all.
We will, therefore, devote our energy
to working much more closely with our
neighbours in pursuit of our development
goals, My Government is committed
to pursuing new approaches and fresh
thinking and will be guided by the core
values of our civilisation.
• Prakash Javadekar
‘My mission
is to make
Doordarshan
competitive and
very prominent in the
media universe. My
passion is to make All
India Radio, which is
really popular and has
fantastic content; there a simple issues
like the transmitter batteries getting
exhausted. We will make DD a success
story. Just today I wrote a note. I will
address the Cable industry on their issues
only after they comply with carrying DD
channels
• Meenakshi Lekhi
‘It is indeed a
privilege for me
to serve and
represent the
people of New Delhi
in the parliament. As
a public servant I am
committed to fulfilling
your aspirations and interests to make
delhi a safe , peaceful , corruption-free
and prosperous place. I shall adress issues
significant to delhi's development on a
top priority. The love and trust which the
people of New Delhi have bestowed upon
me will empower my dedication and
commitment in achieving the stated goals
of inclusive growth in an environment
of peaceful co-existence and harmony.
Honesty, efficiency , transperancy ,
relentless hard work and accountability of
my actions shall be the standards within
which I will be representing you in the
parliament and elsewhere.
• Uddhav Thackeray
‘Definitely.
It would be
performed by
Chief Minister
from Shiv Sena and the
saffron alliance, the
manifesto of the
saffron alliance would
focus on welfare of
warkaris and upgradation of facilities
being provided to them. There is no point
in talking to this government now. Next
government is definitely ours.
• Omar Abdullah
‘We were
waiting for this
for a long time;
it will be a big
boon for the locals as
well. Crores of people
will now be able to
get Mata Vaishno
Devi's blessings due
to this train. I thank Modi for it and
congratulate the Indian railways. I want
to recount the invaluable contribution of
Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government in the
development of this rail link.
• Jyotiraditya Scindia
‘Why there
is so much
difference
between the
BJP's words and
deeds? The persons
who are accused
of committing
atrocities against
women have become Central minister.
Before Lok Sabha polls, BJP used to
say that good days will come soon, but
as a common man, I can say on the
basis of government's 30 days that this
government has not been able to meet the
people's expectations.
• Chandrababu Naidu
‘It’s my promise
to develop
the Andhra
Pradesh state
as a knowledge hub
and a “sunrise state”
in the country. Till I
build a new capital, I
will work as the No.
1 coolie. I need your blessings for that.
Acknowledging that the new state has to
grapple with several problems. Let us use
our intelligence and our resources, and
toil hard to develop our state.
4
july 2014

Point of View
SHIV ‘RAJ’ ROCKED
A
student, a commoner, ended her life in Bhopal. Nothing big to stir anyone, but
the student, a class XII pass-out took the extreme step to end her life after two
failed attempts to crack MP Pre-Medical Test (PMT). On both occasions she
could not make it to her dream career just by few marks and went into depression. Little
did she realize that she and all other students like her were not at fault. It was not that
they were found wanting in their studies and pursuit of their goals but for the lack of
resources, connections and money to buy a medical seat.
Very true, while aspiring medicos put their best effort to crack the so-called tough
entrance examinations, the system has generated a class who can walk away with a
seat in under-graduate, PG or any job by throwing some cash. The very system made
to recognize merit, has become immune to the struggle, sacrifice and hardwork
of common students and their parents. It is the ineligibles, those having the right
connection and money who are easily bulldozing and trampling aspirations of such
hardworking students. The Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (MPPEB)
scam involving PMT, medical pre-PG and job recruitments that have went on to
become independent India’s biggest entrance test, job scam have proved it absolutely
right. Might is right.
A probe by Special Task Force found about 1,200 medical students, who secured
admissions to various medical colleges in the state through unfair means. Admissions
of these students from 2008 to 2013 batch been cancelled. The probe has resulted in the
arrest of more than 1,000 people including the high and mighty. Medical seats in PMT
were sold for Rs 20 lakh to Rs 50 lakh while medical-pre PG seats were sold for about Rs
80 lakh in connivance with corrupt politicians, middlemen, scamsters, bureaucrats and
officers. Talent that needed to be recognized have been given a go by.
Look at the name of the accused emerging out of STF list, Sudhir Sharma- a teacher
at a RSS-run primary school who has become mining baron in the state in about a
decade, Laxmikant Sharma, the former higher education minister, who swore by the
constitution to protect integrity of the nation and its people, Dr Pankaj Trivedi, a stooge
planted as Examination Controller in MPPEB by Sharma and co. To cap it up arrests of
four people by Delhi crime branch from New Delhi suggest that the state civil service
examinations 2012-13 conducted by MP Public Service Commission was also rigged.
Allegations of corruption have not left even Chief Minister’s residence and Rajbhawan
scarred, leading to an emotional Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan admitting in
MP Assembly that of the 70,000 odd recruitments made by state government 1,000
were found to be through unfair means. Will his statement that he is personally hurt
by allegations leveled on his, kin serve any purpose and soothe the thousands of
hardworking students who have been cheated? Who will take the responsibility? Can the
system be cleaned of the wrongdoers? Is this the Shiv ‘Raj’ people of Madhya Pradesh
wanted when they elected his for the third successive time with a massive mandate?
Dr. Shiv Kumar Rai
Editor-in-Chief
5

Point
Out
TWITTERATI
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan @
drharshvardhan
Can't imagine
how BJP
can be held
responsible
for the power
crisis in Delhi.
AAP-Congress
desperation to hide behind
lies.People no fools.
• Naveen Jindal @MPNaveenJindal
Admire Mr Raj
Loomba who
started Loomba
Foundation
to work for
the widows all
around the world
and also to make
23rd June as widows day.
• Nandan Nilekani @NandanNilekani
I am confident
that @Infosys
will scale even
greater heights
under @VSikka's
able stewardship.
Wish him the
very best!
• Dr Raman Singh ‏@drramansingh
Met approx. 1300 people
today in weekly
'Jandarshan'
program.
Approved
development
work of 34
Lacs on
people's
request
• Ratan N. Tata @RNTata2000
The nation voted 4 change.
We need 2 stand
together 2 support
the new Govt's
actions to rebuild
economic
growth and
prosperity in
India.
• ShivrajSingh Chouhan @
ChouhanShivraj ·
Criminal
complaint for
defamation
filed against
Congress
Spokesperson
only by the
state government.
Did what I promised.
• Kiran Bedi @thekiranbedi
When my age grp
was in school
we were doing
Matriculation
(school)
and BA
(college),which
was 10+4. Later
it became 10+2+3.DU wants
10+2+3+1
• Piyush Goyal @PiyushGoyal
We also
understood
the
Jyotigram
Yojana in
great detail
& will leave
no stone unturned for our
dream of 24x7 power, pan
India in every home!
• APJ Abdul Kalam @apj_abdul_
kalam
Today is the day when in
1858 Rani
Laxmibhai
laid her life
fighting
the British.
Salute the
spirit and
courage of Jhansi ki Rani.
• digvijaya singh @digvijaya_28
What has come
is only tip of
an iceberg.
Almost all
appointments
and
admissions
in MBBS should
be investigated.Needle of
suspicion on CM now
• Shahnawaz Hussain@ShahnawazBJP
Decisions that Modi
govt has taken
in 1 month
will form the
foundation for
a developed &
prosperous India
& this is only the
beginning.
• Chetan Bhagat ‏@chetan_bhagat
Educational system is run
by people with
little industry
experience.
Sports
by those
who have
never played.
And then we say we have a
problem
6
july 2014

Point
Out
MPPEB SCAM COVER STORY
The man, who just six months ago led-BJP to an
unprecedented third-time win in the state and was
pitted by a strong section of BJP as an alternate to
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, finds his credibility
blown away by scams into Pre-Medical Test (PMT) and
job recruitment tests conducted by Madhya Pradesh
Professional Examination Board (MPPEB).
8
july 2014

WILL shivraj
SURVIVE
THE MPPEB
SCAM
»»
point out team
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan faces the biggest challenge in his otherwise successful political
career. The man, who just six months ago led-BJP to an unprecedented third-time win in the state and was pitted by
a strong section of BJP as an alternate to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, finds his credibility blown away by scams
into Pre-Medical Test (PMT) and job recruitment tests conducted by Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board
(MPPEB). To cap it up state civil services examinations held by MP Public Service Commission for 2013 are also under scanner
with the arrests of four people in Delhi by Delhi crime branch.
With his mentor and party patriarch LK Advani relegated to back seat in party politics in the new order, and allegations sparing no
one, including his kin and Rashtriya Swayemsevak Sangh (RSS) brass, a battered Chouhan is left to fend for himself.
The trail of investigations into MPPEB scams – being dubbed as the biggest scams in medical entrance and job recruitments in
independent India – has led to the doorsteps of who’s-who in the state. Chouhan’s former cabinet colleague and Higher Education
Minister Laxmikant Sharma has been arrested while allegations about influencing examinations for job recruitments and pre-medical
test has been leveled against a former Rashtriya Swayemsevak Sangh (RSS) chief and a senior RSS functionary. Two former Officers
on Special Duty (OSD)— of Madhya Pradesh Governor Ram Naresh Yadav and former minister Laxmikant Sharma are among
9

Point
Out
MPPEB SCAM COVER STORY
The trail of investigations into MPPEB scams - being dubbed as the biggest
scams in medical entrance and job recruitments in independent India -
has led to the doorsteps of who’s-who in the state. Chouhan’s former
cabinet colleague and Higher Education Minister Laxmikant Sharma has
been arrested while allegations about influencing examinations for job
recruitments and pre-medical test has been leveled against a former
Rashtriya Swayemsevak Sangh (RSS) chief and a senior RSS functionary.
Two former Officers on Special Duty (OSD)- of Madhya Pradesh Governor
Ram Naresh Yadav and former minister Laxmikant Sharma are among the
IPS officers, doctors, bureaucrats, officers and staff of state’s professional
examinations board arrested. So far Madhya Pradesh Special Task Force
(STF) investigating the scams has arrested about 1,000 people including
medical students charged with using unfair means in examinations and
middlemen.
the IPS officers, doctors, bureaucrats,
officers and staff of state’s professional
examinations board arrested. So far
Madhya Pradesh Special Task Force
(STF) investigating the scams has
arrested about 1,000 people including
medical students charged with using
unfair means in examinations and
middlemen.
Admissions of about 1,500 medical
students admitted to different
government and private medical
colleges in the state since 2008 and
charged with using unfair means in
the entrance test have been cancelled.
Mining baron Sudhir Sharma, who
enjoyed considerable clout in the
state BJP affairs, is now an accused
in the case and is on the run. He
has been termed an absconder
by police and process is on for
attachment of his properties
while another Congress leader
Sanjeev Saxena, who contested
the assembly election in 2013, is
already under arrest.
As the muck flew thick and fast,
Chouhan himself has not been able
come clean. Opposition Congress has
seized the opportunity and levelled
charges of irregularities against his
wife and kin. Leader of opposition
in MP Assembly Satyadev Katare has
alleged that rules were manipulated
by the Madhya Pradesh Public Service
Commission (MPPSC) to favour his
niece for a job as deputy collector.
Likewise, state Congress spokesperson
KK Mishra has charged Chouhan’s wife
of making calls to the officials of MPPEB
and some of the accused in the scam. An
allegation strongly denied by Chouhan,
who later went on to file a defamation
suit against Mishra in a Bhopal court.
Not be left out, former chief minister of
Madhya Pradesh and All India Congress
General Secretary Digvijaya Singh has
also jumped into the ring by alleging
that Shivraj’s brother-in-law, who
started as a small time contractor has
been facilitated by the state government
to become a grade 3, 4 and 5 level
contractor within a few years.
For Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the MPPEB
scam proved to be a double-edged
weapon as his personal image and
credibility was being targeted by the
opposition Congress leaders and on
the other hand reports about RSS brass
involvement, earned him their wrath. It
is the latter that would eventually decide
his fate in the coming days.
With RSS expressing strong displeasure
over the manner in which state
government has handled the scam and
its investigations and diverted attention
towards its leaders, Chouhan’s boat has
already been rocked. “If he is unable
10
july 2014

to take charge of the issue, his days are
numbered,” a senior BJP leader from
Madhya Pradesh told ‘POINT OUT’ on
condition of anonymity.
Some senior BJP leaders from Madhya
Pradesh have already made rounds of
Delhi and apprised party leadership
about the scam and its implication on
the party. Former Madhya Pradesh
Chief Minister and Union Minister
Uma Bharati, Chouhan’s bete-noir, has
already demanded a CBI probe into
MPPEB scam. Problem for Chouhan
is not only with the RSS. A section of
leaders in his party are slowly but surely
undermining his authority. With Advani
hardly visible, he has lost that vital
support at national level and his aidein-crisis,
Sushma Swaraj away in Delhi
shaping Modi government’s foreign
policy, Chouhan finds himself isolated.
For, during his hay days, Shivraj Singh
Chouhan too had rubbed far too many
party leaders the other way. Finding
him cornered and on a sticky wicket, all
those leaders from the state and national
11
Mining baron Sudhir Sharma,
who enjoyed considerable clout
in the state BJP affairs, is now
an accused in the case and is on
the run. He has been termed an
absconder by police and process
is on for attachment of his
properties while another Congress
leader Sanjeev Saxena, who
contested the assembly election
in 2013, is already under arrest.
level are now, having the last laugh.
It will take Shivraj Singh Chouhan all his
political skills to weather the storm as
the pitch grows for his resignation and
a CBI probe into the scam. Chouhan,
who had till now successfully rejected
demands for a CBI probe into the
scam finds himself in a spot as Madhya
Pradesh high court, has stepped in and
is monitoring investigations carried
out by Madhya Pradesh Special Task
Force (STF) into MPPEB scams. This
development gives him no leverage to
manipulate or dilute the probe.
To undo the damage a battered Chouhan
rushed to Mohankheda in Dhar district
where the RSS orientation camp is
being held and met sangh chief Mohan
Bhagwat and senior functionaries
Bhaiyaji Joshi and Suresh Soni, earlier
this month. He is learnt to have briefed
sangh leaders about the state of affairs
relating to the scams and tried to remove
misgivings surrounding him about it.
As usual, RSS leaders appeared unfazed
and remained non-committal about
the meeting and the scam. Sources
close to Chouhan informed he tried his
best to convince the RSS brass about
his innocence but they were hardly
impressed. After meeting RSS leaders
Chouhan had visited the adjoining Jain

Point
Out
MPPEB SCAM COVER STORY
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Union Minister Uma Bharati, Chouhan’s bete-noir, has
already demanded a CBI probe into MPPEB scam. Problem for Chouhan is not only with the RSS. A
section of leaders in his party are slowly but surely undermining his authority. With Advani hardly
visible, he has lost that vital support at national level and his aide-in-crisis, Sushma Swaraj away
in Delhi shaping Modi government’s foreign policy, Chouhan finds himself isolated.
temple where he offered prayers. He
would surely need divine intervention
to tide over the crisis.
Meanwhile, allegation involving his wife
and kin left Shivraj Singh Chouhan in
an agitated mood as was visible during
debate on adjournment motion on
MPPEB scam in MP Assembly moved
by opposition Congress. In his reply he
hit back claiming Congress has levelled
false allegations in connection with
the MPPEB scam "just to derail the
investigation being conducted under
the supervision of the High Court."
Chouhan even went on to say, he will not
only quit politics "but will take sanyas"
if allegations levelled by opposition
against him and his family are proved.
Rattled by the constant dragging of his
family’s name in the scam, in a tit for tat
he also announced alleged irregularities
committed during Congress regime in
recruitments for government jobs will
be probed. “We have enough evidence
of irregularities in appointments during
the Congress regime. Appointments
were given on recommendations
scribbled on empty cigarette packets.
From appointment of constables to
‘patwaris’, nothing was transparent.
Along with MPPEB, a probe will be
conducted on appointments racket of
the Congress government,” he said. He
also said MPPEB will be restructured
and admissions to medical colleges
will take place through All-India Pre-
Medical Entrance tests and a new
MPPEB Act will be passed to prevent
scams in future.
“All efforts made by the opposition to
take my wicket on the MPPEB scam
would prove futile,” he added.
Will Chouhan need someone to take his
wicket at this stage or he will get out hit
wicket?, only time would tell.
12
july 2014

Taking a dig at the
STF probe into the
MPPEB scam, Katare
alleged that cases
against irregularities
were registered
in different police
stations in 2006 and
2009 but the state
government ignored
them. He alleged
while students and
their parents, who
paid money to get a
medical seat have
been arrested the
big fish have been
let off.
PSC RULES
TWEAKED: KATARE
Leader of opposition in MP
Assembly Satyadev Katare
launched a scathing attack on
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh
Chouhan arguing that the scam has
affected a crore of students and
lakhs of families. Talking to POINT
OUT in New Delhi, Katare said It
was BJP leader Uma Bharati who
claimed MPPEB scam to be bigger
13

Point
Out
MPPEB SCAM COVER STORY
Katare claiming to have obtained documents through Right to Information (RTI) alleged
MPPSC had tweaked its rules to accommodate Chouhan’s neice Ritu Chouhan as deputy
collector. Despite she having scored less marks in the test she was preferred over
others as a female from OBC category, he alleged. Katare showing copies of income
certificate filed by Ritu Chouhan along with her application form alleged she had left
portions relating to her family income as blank just to claim the benefit of reservation.
As per rules her application should have been automatically cancelled.
than fodder scam of Bihar and had
demanded a CBI inquiry. Why did
Chouhan not oblige?, he asked.
Katare claiming to have obtained
documents through Right
to Information (RTI) alleged
MPPSC had tweaked its rules
to accommodate Chouhan’s
neice Ritu Chouhan as deputy
collector. Despite she having
scored less marks in the test
she was preferred over others
as a female from OBC category,
he alleged. Katare showing
copies of income certificate filed
by Ritu Chouhan along with her
application form alleged she had
left portions relating to her family
income as blank just to claim
the benefit of reservation. As per
rules her application should have
been automatically cancelled, he
added.
Taking a dig at the STF probe into
the MPPEB scam, Katare alleged
that cases against irregularities
were registered in different police
stations in 2006 and 2009 but the
state government ignored them.
He alleged while students and their
parents, who paid money to get a
medical seat have been arrested
the big fish have been let off.
Simply cancellation of admissions
of these students is a punishment
for them, but what about those
officers, politicians and leaders
who made the recommendations
to accommodate these students.
What about those who rigged
the job recruitment examinations.
Where are the middlemen?
Where is mining baron Sudhir
Sharma, a close aide of former
minister Laxmikant Sharma? Why
has the police not been able to get
him in the last few months?, he
asked.
14
july 2014

MISHRA ACCUSES CM’S WIFE
State
Congress
spokesman K K Mishra
alleged call location
details show 139 phone
calls were made by a woman
from CM House to the main
accused in the MPPEB scam
– board’s controller Pankaj
Trivedi and systems analyst Nitin
Mohindra. Both are in jail. “The
chief minister needs to explain
which woman official from CM
House called Pankaj Trivedi and
Nitin Mohindra 139 times and for
what purpose,” Mishra said.
Mishra talking to media in Bhopal
claimed not just the CM’s wife,
but his close relatives, including
his maternal uncle, Phool Singh
Chouhan, has been in touch with
Trivedi and Mohindra even when
they were lodged in jail.
“Cell phone number 9425365833
belongs to Phool Singh Chouhan,
a resident of 115 Bholenath
Colony, TilaJamalpura, Bhopal.
From this phone, multiple calls
were made to accused while
they were in jail. What is most
interesting is the location of the
phone when these calls were
made,” Mishra said.
Mishra argued Phool Singh
Chouhan, his son Sanjay
Chouhan and chief minister’s
father Prem Singh Chouhan are
in a contractual business. Based
on this fact, involvement of CM’s
other family members cannot be
denied, he alleged.
Congress spokesperson also
asserted involvement of Union
minister for water resources Uma
Bharati, senior RSS functionary
Suresh Soni, BJP leaders and
relatives of several senior IAS
and IPS officers from the state in
the scam.
15

Point
Out
MPPEB SCAM COVER STORY
ON THE OFFENSIVE:
CHOUHAN
“It is true that I had
knowledge about MPPEB
irregularities and that
is precisely why we
constituted a probe
by the STF. I received
information about an
anonymous letter that
was sent to the Indore
police on June 20, 2013
about how imposter
examinees would appear
for PMT examination.
The letter had names
of two suspects and I
ordered the police to act
on it. The miscreants
were arrested and
interrogated.
Madhya Pradesh Chief
Minister Shivraj Singh
Chouhan failed to
respond to phone calls
and a detailed e-mail questionnaire
sent to him by POINT OUT
seeking his stand on MPPEB and
other related job scams.
Meanwhile, replying to an
adjournment motion on the issue
moved by the Congress in MP
Assembly Shivraj Singh Chouhan
claimed, “I am not the one
engaged in irregularities. Rather,
I am the person who got the
irregularities probed. If even one
allegation is proved against me, I
will take sanyas (retirement) from
politics for the life time.”
“Press conferences were
called and media was briefed
by opposition that my wife was
16
july 2014

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan failed to respond
to phone calls and a detailed e-mail questionnaire sent to him by POINT
OUT seeking his stand on MPPEB and other related job scams.
involved in the recruitment of
17 constables in state transport
department. These were baseless
allegations without any evidence.
Is it a crime to be the chief
minister’s wife? Will the Congress
hit below the belt just because I led
the BJP for a third-term victory in
the state? Will an innocent woman
be targeted without proof?”
While clarifying his wife’s
involvement, Chouhan read out
to in the House how former Chief
Minister Digvijaya Singh had
given in writing that rules should
be bent to recruit Raghavendra
Singh, a resident of Rewa, as
an engineer in the state PWD
department. Chouhan also stated
how by an order, dated October
10, 1995, the entire family of
former Speaker Shriniwas Tiwari
17
and his son, sitting Congress MLA
Sundarlal Tiwari, were appointed
as teachers in a school in Divni in
Rewa district. The chief minister
also read out a list of about 10 to
15 names of Sundarlal Tiwari’s
family members including Rashmi
Tiwari, Govind Tiwari and Prabha
Tiwari.
“It is true that I had knowledge
about MPPEB irregularities
and that is precisely why we
constituted a probe by the STF.
I received information about an
anonymous letter that was sent
to the Indore police on June
20, 2013 about how imposter
examinees would appear for PMT
examination. The letter had names
of two suspects and I ordered the
police to act on it. The miscreants
were arrested and interrogated.
Would it be possible for all these
arrests to have taken place if this
government wanted to suppress
the MPPEB bungling?” the chief
minister asked the opposition.
Chouhan said that constitution
of the Special Task Force was
ordered by him after which officers,
leaders and all those involved
were arrested. “No matter what
the Congress hopes to achieve by
launching an attack, the guilty will
still be punished. I have repeatedly
mentioned that anyone involved in
the scam are animals pursuing
wealth. Fourteen law suits were
filed in the high court demanding
a CBI inquiry and the court has
dismissed all. The high court has
directed that the STF will work
under its guidance,” Chouhan
added.

Point
Out
MPPEB SCAM COVER STORY
MOTHER OF ALL
SCAMS
18
july 2014

Former higher and technical education minister Laxmikant
Sharma, IPS officer RK Shivhare, Bharat Mishra brother of
inspector general of police, Dr Vinod Bhandari, CMD of Sri
Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences (SIAMS), general
manager of SIAMS Pradeep Raghuvanshi, Dr Jagdish Sagar, man
who arranged students to write others examinations as imposters
(scorers), Dr Sanjeev Shilpkar who operated another gang,
middlemen Tarang Sharma, OP Shukla ex-OSD to Laxmikant
Sharma, Dhanraj Yadav former OSD to MP Governor Ram Naresh
Yadav, Exam Controller of MPPEB Pankaj Trivedi, Chief System
Analyst of the board Nitin Mohindra and officials CK Mishra,
Ajay Sen and others. Former Congress leader, who contested the
2013 MP Assembly elections on Congress ticket from Bhopal South
Central Sanjeev Saxena has been arrested along with Radha Raman
Ahirwar, BSP leader from Uttar Pradesh for having rigged the
police recruitment examinations.
»»
point out team
Madhya Pradesh has been rocked
by one of the biggest entrancecum-job
recruitment scams in
the history of independent
India. Seats in government and private
medical colleges were being rigged
through Pre-Medical Tests conducted
by Madhya Pradesh Professional
Examination Board (MPPEB) over the
years. Seats were sold for Rs 20 lakh to
Rs 50 lakh with the help of scamsters,
middlemen, senior officials of MPPEB,
top bureaucrats and some private
medical college managements, who
worked as specialized and organized
racket.
What started with the arrest of some
students and imposters (scorers) from
other states by Indore crime branch on
July 7 and 8, 2013, a few hours before
state PMT 2013, has opened a can of
worms. With investigations taken over
by Madhya Pradesh Special Task Force
(STF), the scam grew bigger. Every
recruitment test – be it for appointment
of contract teachers, police constables,
assistants for regional transport offices,
pre-medical or medical pre-PG tests –
conducted by the MPPEB came under
scanner.
Investigations unearthed a bigger
racket that involved several specialized
which rigged the entrance tests,
middlemen, officers of MP Professional
Examinations Board (MPPEB) and
several students and their parents
and guardians. Till now more than
1,000 people have been arrested and
19

Point
Out
MPPEB SCAM COVER STORY
HOW THEYOPERATED
MODE 1:
TAMPERING OMR SHEETS
For PMT and medical pre-PG exams, students were identified
by middlemen and a deal was struck with their parents, cash for
seat. For clearing PMT Rs 20 lakh to Rs 50 lakh were charged
per seat while for medical pre-PG Rs 60 lakh to Rs 80 lakh were
charged per seat.
Once deal was done and bribes were paid, these students were
asked to leave the optical mark reader (OMR) sheets blank.
Officials in the systems wing of the board later marked correct
answers on the sheets, paving the way for the candidates entry
to the merit list and selection for admission to medical courses.
MODE 2:
TAMPERING ROLL NOS.
Dr Pankaj Trivedi and Nitin Mohindra along with other technical
staff were able to break the logic of allocation of roll numbers
for candidates.
‘Scorer’ candidates - largely those who had cracked the PMT
before - were made to sit close to the ‘beneficiary’ candidates so
they could copy correct answers.
MODE 3:
USING IMPOSTERS
Gangs and middlemen, who struck deal with students to get
them cleared in the entrance test replaced candidates with
imposters. These imposters who were doctors or qualified
students from other states would write the test in exchange of
Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.
Seats were sold for Rs 20
lakh to Rs 50 lakh with
the help of scamsters,
middlemen, senior
officials of MPPEB, top
bureaucrats and some
private medical college
managements, who
worked as specialized
and organized racket.
admissions of over 1500 medical
students from 2008 to 2013 batch have
been cancelled.
With the magnitude and scope of the
PMT scam widening, state government
ordered a probe by Special Task Force
(STF) that eventually turned out to be
Frankston’s monster. STF investigations
revealed every examination conducted
by MPPEB (besides PMT) including
recruitment of constables, subinspectors
recruitment, regional
transport office clerical staff, contract
teachers were rigged. As the canvas of
probe spread, so did the accused and the
operators. Investigations into the scam
led the trail to the who’s who in the state
and the scams left Rajbhawan and Chief
Minister’s House scarred.
Former higher and technical education
minister Laxmikant Sharma, IPS officer
RK Shivhare, Bharat Mishra brother of
inspector general of police, Dr Vinod
Bhandari, CMD of Sri Aurobindo
Institute of Medical Sciences (SIAMS),
general manager of SIAMS Pradeep
Raghuvanshi, Dr Jagdish Sagar, man
who arranged students to write others
examinations as imposters (scorers), Dr
Sanjeev Shilpkar who operated another
gang, middlemen Tarang Sharma, OP
Shukla ex-OSD to Laxmikant Sharma,
Dhanraj Yadav former OSD to MP
Governor Ram Naresh Yadav, Exam
Controller of MPPEB Pankaj Trivedi,
20
july 2014

Point
Out
MPPEB SCAM COVER STORY
Chief System Analyst of the board Nitin
Mohindra and officials CK Mishra,
Ajay Sen and others. Former Congress
leader, who contested the 2013 MP
Assembly elections on Congress ticket
from Bhopal South Central Sanjeev
Saxena has been arrested along with
Radha Raman Ahirwar, BSP leader
from Uttar Pradesh for having rigged
the police recruitment examinations.
When the initial arrests were made,
STF found PMT exams were rigged
by various gangs in connivance with
officials of MPPEB. Seats were sold from
Rs 20 lakh to Rs 50 lakh or upwards and
once the students were identified and
deal was finalized with transfer of money
the handlers arranged for students
(imposters) who used to appear for
the genuine candidates and write their
tests. There was another set of students
called as scorers, who were seated
before the genuine students ahead of
each candidate who had paid and they
solved the questions which the students
just copied. This process was aided by
professional examination board’s exam
controller Dr Pankaj Trivedi and Nitin
Mohindra, who broke the logic of roll
numbers and tampered with it allowing
select students to sit together. Most of
the imposters and scorers were medical
Every recruitment test –
be it for appointment of
contract teachers, police
constables, assistants
for regional transport
offices, pre-medical or
medical pre-PG tests –
conducted by the MPPEB
came under scanner.
and other students, who were paid Rs
1 lakh to 5 lakh and were called from
Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and others states.
While Trivedi and co rigged PMT, RSS
found itself on the defensive after name
of it former chief late K Sudarshan was
dragged into the recruitment scam.
He is alleged to have recommended
his confidante and sewader, Mihir
Kumar’s name for food inspector’s exam
conducted by MPPEB. It is learnt during
interrogation Trivedi has admitted
minister Laxmikant Sharma’s office had
recommended Mihir’s name stating he
was “an important candidate.” Mihir’s
name was recommended by the then
OSD to Sharma, OP Shukla along with
four others - Rajkumar Dhakad, Naresh
Chand Sagar, Sunil Sahu and Avdhesh
Bhargava.
STF has filed a fresh case against
Laxmikant Sharma in food inspectors
recruitment scam after irregularities
in contract teachers’ recruitment.
Earlier, Laxmikant Sharma was arrested
in connection with irregularities in
contractual teachers (grade II) and
constable recruitment examinations.
Records seized from the office and
residence of Dr Pankaj Trivedi and
Nitin Mohindra showed how they
carried out the scam. Both maintained
digital records on their computers
that had details of every candidate,
who was favoured, the person who
recommended the candidate and the
transaction involved. While the two
accused managed to delete the bribe
received column, STF managed to get
data retrieved from forensic lab on
Mohindra’s excel sheet, that elaborates
on the payments. This sheet forms a
major document filed by STF in its
chargesheets.
22
july 2014

THE ACCUSED
LAXMIKANT SHARMA
(Former Technical and Higher Education Minister of
Madhya Pradesh)
H
e
was arrested in connection with the scam in contract
teachers’ recruitment and involvement in weights and
measures inspectors examination. He is charged with
recommending names to MPPEB officials to manipulate
results so that undeserving candidates were able to clear the exams
and get jobs. Sharma was the one, who recommended the name of
Dr Pankaj Trivedi to be posted as Examination Controller of MPPEB.
Sharma, who failed to win the November 2013 assembly elections
was shunned by BJP, soon after his arrest. He was asked to resign
from the party, which he had to do under stress. Now, in custody,
Sharma is being questioned by STF for his role in other job recruitment
examinations too.
OP SHUKLA
(Former OSD to ex minister Laxmikant
Sharma)
S
hukla
is alleged to be the point-man
through which names of candidates were
recommended by the minister’s office
to MPPEB officials. Shukla, during his
interrogation told STF, Sharma had recommended
Trivedi’s name for the key post in state’s professional
examinations board. He also revealed that Sharma
had asked Dr Trivedi to ensure his daughter Aparna
Sharma clears the PMT exam 2012. However, "she
failed as wrong answers were ticked on her optical
mark reader (OMR) sheets by PEB officials," Shukla
alleged.
23

Point
Out
DHANRAJ YADAV
(Former OSD to Governor of MP)
Y
adav
and BSP leader Radha Raman Ahirwar have
been arrested in connection with two recruitment
examination scams in the state on April 14, 2014.
While Yadav was arrested in connection with the
police examination recruitment exam of 2012, Ahirwar was
booked for rigging teachers' recruitment examination conducted
by the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board (PEB)
in 2011. Yadav is charged with misusing his official position
and recommending many candidates for recruitment as police
constable to PEB's Exam Controller Dr Pankaj Trivedi and Chief
System Analyst, Nitin Mohindra. Names of candidates referred
by Yadav were found from the data sheet on the hard disk on
Mahindra's computer. Ahirwar, ex-BSP president of Vidisha
district got selected some candidates in contractual teachers
eligibility test grade-II through Yadav and Trivedi. Both Yadav
and Ahirwar reportedly hail from Mau district of Uttar Pradesh.
MPPEB SCAM COVER STORY
SUDHIR SHARMA
(Teacher-turned mining baron)
T
he
teacher-turned businessman had a meteoric rise
in the last decade. From Saraswati Shishu Mandir,
where he worked as a teacher, Sharma became
a lecturer in an engineering college in Vidisha,
where he came in contact with Laxmikant Sharma, the former
minister. Then he came on deputation to the Rajiv Gandhi
Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya in Bhopal. He is a key accused
in police constable recruitment exam conducted by MPPEB.
After Sharma failed to turn up for questioning before STF,
the probe agency had announced Rs 5,000 reward on his
arrest. Besides, police constable recruitment scam, Sharma
is also co-accused in contract teacher recruitment exam, also
conducted by MPPEB. He is on the run and has applied for
anticipatory bail that has been rejected by the courts.
24
july 2014

R K SHIVHARE, IPS
(Former Technical and Higher Education
Minister of Madhya Pradesh)
S
hivhare
an accused in MPPEB case had
surrendered in Bhopal at the office of Special
Task Force (STF). STF had announced a
reward of Rs 3,000 against Shivhare, who
was posted as Deputy Inspector General (DIG) but was
on the run ever since. Shivhare is an accused in medical
post graduate exam in which his daughter and son-inlaw
(both medical students) are named as accused,
police sources said. Both managed to get good
positions in the pre-PG merit list. Besides, he was also
allegedly involved in the irregularities in the recruitment
of subedar, sub-inspector and platoon commander
examination of 2012 conducted by the MPPEB. One
of the key accused, Nitin Mohindra said Shivhare had
recommended three candidates Pralekh Tiwari, Gaurav
Srivastava and his cousin Sam Srivastava with Rs 15
lakh each to be inducted as cops.
DR JAGDISH SAGAR
KINGPINS
A
n
MBBS himself, he has run a successful racket that
successfully rigged PMT in Madhya Pradesh for the last
few years. By his own admission Dr Sagar claims to have
facilitated entry of about 150 students to various medical
colleges in the state. He was arrested from Mumbai, last year after
cops picked up some imposters at Indore. Though his wife and he
claim to be MBBS doctors, they never practiced. Hailing from Bhind,
Sagar lived and operated from in Indore and his wealth grew. He led
a luxurious lifestyle and had amassed huge wealth. Indore police
searched his premises, where they found CCTVs and biometric locks
and details of assets that include at least 20 properties in Indore,
Gwalior, Dewas and many other towns. He was keen on getting
into the realty business in Gwalior. A number of used and unused
cartridges, weapons including a revolver from a pulses container
and a huge collection of liquor bottles were also found from his
sprawling bungalow in Indore. Sagar, a teetotaller, told police the
bottles were meant to impress visitors. The bungalow also had a
centre for training those he allegedly helped get admission. Cops
said his modus operandi was to rope in bright students who would
impersonate examination candidates and help others cheat, either
by dictating the correct answers or by exchanging sheets.
25

Point
Out
MPPEB SCAM COVER STORY
Dr SANJEEV
SHILPKAR
H
e
ran a racket that rigged PMT
exams and facilitated admissions
of students to various medical
colleges in the state. STF estimates
that Shilpkar has been instrumental in
getting at least 164 students cleared in the
pre-medical entrance. Shilpkar was arrested
along with another middlemen and a sum
of Rs 1.30 crore were recovered from his
residence at Ashoka Garden in Bhopal.
Shilpkar is learnt to have confessed to
receiving Rs 3 crore in kickbacks from 45
candidates who had appeared in the medical
entrance test. He claimed that he with the
help of other accused in the scam helped
clear the PMT of 90 ineligible students.
PREM
CHAND
PRAKASH
(Former PS to Chief
Minister Chouhan)
T
he
former personal
secretary of Chief Minister
Shivraj Singh Chouhan,
Prem Chand Prakash, is
also under the scanner for allegedly
getting his daughter admitted in
the MBBS course with the help of
the PMT racket. He is alleged to
have recommended name of his
daughter for PMT 2012 but there
were no payments made by him for
this favour.
RAKSHYA
PAL SINGH
YADAV
(Former CSP, Gwalior)
Y
adav
had recommended
the name of his son for
a medical seat. He is
studying at Netaji Subash
Chandra Bose Medical College,
Jabalpur. Yadav allegedly got
admission in government medical
college through Sudhir Rai, a close
aide of Jagdish Sagar, the alleged
kingpin of the PMT scam. "He met
Rai through director of a private
medical college," said an STF
officer wishing anonymity.
26
july 2014

SANJEEV
SAXENA
(Congress leader)
H
e
surrendered before Chief
Judicial Magistrate (CJM)
court in Bhopal. STF has
allegedly found Saxena
to be involved in MPPEB's Dairy
Federation Examination. Besides, he
has also recommended some names
for food inspector examination and
the constable recruitment examination.
Saxena, had unsuccessfully contested
the November 2013 assembly
elections in Madhya Pradesh against
Umashankar Gupta from Bhopal South-
Central constituency.
27
BHARAT
MISHRA
(Brother of IPS officer posted
in Bhopal)
B
harat
Mishra, brother of a
senior police officer of the rank
of Inspector General of Police
surrendered in a Bhopal court.
He has been charged with providing
logistic support and host seven
students send by Dr Vinod Bhandari
of SAIMS on the eve of medical pre-
PG examination. The students were
allegedly provided with copies of
question papers at their hideout and
were made to solve it hours before the
examination.
DR VINOD
BHANDARI
(Chairman and Managing
Director, SIAMS, Indore)
C
hairperson
of Shri Aurobindo
Institute of Medical Sciences
(SAIMS), Dr Bhandari has
been arrested by the STF for
his alleged role in the multi-crore
PMT-2012 scam. He was arrested for
forgery, cheating, violation of IT Act
and criminal conspiracy. He is alleged
to have manipulated admissions in
medical pre-PG test and PMT 2012,
Bhandari was holed up in Mauritius,
ever since his name cropped up in the
Pre-PG scam. He surfaced only after
an anticipatory bail was granted by the
Madhya Pradesh high court.

Point
Out
MPPEB SCAM COVER STORY
DR PANKAJ
TRIVEDI
(Former Controller,
Examinations, MPPEB)
T
he
scam could not have
been perpetuated without the
knowledge of Dr Trivedi, who
a senior officer privy to most
information about examinations. He
was allegedly recommended for the
top post by Laxmikant Sharma. Trivedi
was arrested in September last year
in connection with irregularities in
PMT and continues to be in custody.
Later, during interrogation his alleged
involvement in other entrance and
recruitment exams conducted by
MPPEB also came to light. Preliminary
investigations suggest, sleuths have
gathered information about Trivedi's
assets, including around 5.5 hectares
of agricultural land, two houses and
one plot of land. Documents found
from his house also suggest that he has
a partnership in a local college.
NITIN
MOHINDRA
(Chief Systems Analyst, MPPEB)
A
key
accused, Mohindra was
the one who broke logic of roll
numbers and accommodated
students together with whom
a deal was finalized. He got a good
share of money. STF sources said most
middlemen arrested in the medical and
recruitment scams conducted by MPPEB
were connected with Mohindra. It is his
detailed excel-sheet that mentions names
of candidates who used unfair means to
clear the tests and the person or people
recommending them and details of money
taken from beneficiaries. Mohindra
has already been chargesheeted in
connection with a computer purchase
scam. The chargesheet reveals Mohindra
and his colleagues in MPPEB Ajay Sen
and Ashok Mishra, had purchased 78
computers and other equipment and in
some cases, the purchase was made on
double the market rate from a Mumbaibased
firm Shreya.com.
EXAMINATIONS
UNDER
SCANNER
l Pre Medical Test – 2008 to
2013
l Medical Pre PG entrance
l Regional Transport Office,
clerical examinations
l Contract Teacher’ Grade III
recruitment
l SI, constable recruitment
l Milk Fed staff recruitment
l Food Inspectors recruitment
28
july 2014

PAYMENT OPTIONS
- You can pay online at pointoutnews.com/subscription
- Or you can pay through Cheque or DD using the form below:
Please fill the form in CAPITAL LETTERS.
Please draw Cheques/DD favouring “Fourth Voice Media Network Pvt. Ltd.” and send to 1201, Nirmal Tower, Barakhamba
Road, Connaught Place, New Delhi-110001.
Name .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Address ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................................
Mobile ....................................City .......................................... Pin .................................. State .........................................................................................
Email ............................................................................................................................. Occupation ...................................................................................
Please find enclosed DD/Cheque for Rs .............................................................................................. Dated ..........................................................
For further queries contact : contact@pointoutnews.com. +919999280060.
Terms and Conditions: 1.This is a limited period offer. 2. Pointout will not be responsible for postal delays, transit loses or mutilation of the forms. 3. All disputes are subject to laws of India and exclusive
jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi. 4. Pointout reserves the right to extend or terminate this offer at any point or reject any or all forms at its absolute discretion without assigning
any reason whatsoever. 5. Allow 3-4 weeks time for processing of the subscription. Subscription would be processed only after realization of payments. 6. Payments can be made through Cheque/DD
payable at par. Cash payments will not be accepted.
* T & C apply
29

Point
Out
state report KARNATAKA
CASH-FOR-MLC SEAT SCAM
Words of former chief minister of Karnataka "Each MLA (of JDS) is
asking for one crore. They are saying you make anybody the MLC...
this is my fate…" created a furore in Karnataka last week when
private TV channels aired the audio CD of Kumaraswamy conversing
with Vijugouda Patil , a JDS leader and an MLC aspirant.
30
july 2014

A reason why Chief
Minister Siddaramaiah
said, "If a cat drinks
the milk closing its
eyes, it doesn't mean
that the entire world
is not watching it
drink the milk." But
H D Kumaraswamy
may have been a tad
unlucky that the audio
CD of the conversation
went public.
»»
VIJAY GROVER
Karnataka has been rocked by
another controversy. This time
it is cash-for-seat involving the
MLA with former chief minister
and Janata Dal Secular leader HD
Kumaraswamy caught on tape uttering
what he should not have said in public.
However, for Kumaraswamy and his
father former prime minister HD Deve
Gowda, it has been nothing new. JDS
has been alleged of corruption in the
past still it has managed to stay put in
state politics.
Words of former chief minister of
Karnataka "Each MLA (of JDS) is asking
for one crore. They are saying you make
anybody the MLC...this is my fate…"
created a furore in Karnataka last week
when private TV channels aired the
audio CD of Kumaraswamy conversing
with Vijugouda Patil , a JDS leader and
an MLC aspirant. The incident once
again exposed the ugly underbelly of
the Upper house legislature politics that
one sees very often being played out in
different ways in different states.
Perhaps Kumaraswamy knows well that
31
he is not the first and certainly not the
last political leader who has traded the
MLC or Rajyasabha MP post a reason
why the JDS leader didn’t seem very
disturbed by the controversy over the
leak of the audio CD.
Quick to react the JDS leader and
Kumaraswamy was candid enough and
accepted having had the conversation
and defended himself saying it had been
blown out of proportion as if he had
"committed a sin".
As he remained in the eye of a storm
facing strong criticism over his remarks
in the CD, Kumaraswamy said, "In this
case I have explained internal party
realities with my party workers. It has
been blown out of proportion as though
I have committed a sin. There is nothing
that corroborates that someone has paid
any money....."
But when under attack Kumaraswamy's
, counter attack that other parties in the
state also indulged in similar moves that
the Ex- CM drew flak from both the
Congress and BJP.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah
reacted. "Whoever has done.. mistake is
a mistake. Corruption is corruption. If
he (Kumaraswamy) says other parties
are also doing it, is not a defence at
all". The opposition BJP sought a probe
into the incident . Union Minister
Ananth Kumar said the guilty should
be punished. "Whoever is guilty,
after a thorough probe, he should be
punished," but many other state leaders
of the BJP and the congress steered
clear of making the issue bigger in the
ongoing session of the state assembly.
Different parties in the state including
Congress and BJP have faced similar
allegations in the past. Questions have
been raised on elections of Business
Tycoons like industrialist MAM
Ramaswamy , Vijay Mallya of UB group,
Rajeev Chandrasekhar of BPL group
and several others who allegedly used
the route of buying MLA votes to enter
the Rajya sabha with JDS and BJP MLA’s
support.
A reason why Chief Minister
Siddaramaiah said, "If a cat drinks the
milk closing its eyes, it doesn't mean that
the entire world is not watching it drink
the milk." But H D Kumaraswamy may
have been a tad unlucky that the audio
CD of the conversation went public.
While the state government and the
opposition tried its best to avoid
a debate not discuss the issue in
Karnataka assembly ,it created a furore
in the society forcing former Lokayukta
Justice Santosh Hegde to comment "for
the fear of more exposures coming to
light they are not discussing it."
However, brushing aside the attacks on
him, Kumaraswamy said he enjoyed full
confidence of his MLAs and other party
leaders. "....they openly discuss all their
difficulties with me. But with the Union
Home ministry stepping in and seeking
a report from the state government
Kumaraswamy’s confidence that none
may touch him seems misplaced even as
a demand for cleaning up state politics
and a thorough probe into all such
suspect deals may open up an ugly can
of worms involving all parties.
The AAP Karnataka unit however is
gearing up to launch an agitation and
keep the issue alive .

Point
Out
INDO-IRAQ STORY
DIPLOMAtiC coup IN IRAQ
»»
SURYA GANGADHARAN
The safe arrival of the Indian
nurses from Iraq is cause for
much relief. If nothing else, it
would have restored public faith
in our diplomats ability to work through
competing often conflicting groups to
secure the safety of the nurses. They
ranged from Sunni Arab tribes, some pro
Islamic others reportedly fighting under
the banner of the late president Saddam
Hussein. Add to that Kurdish Peshmerga
and of course the faltering government
of Iraqi President Nouri al Maliki.
The focus has now shifted to securing
“If you look back, the UPA showed little political interest in the region. Most
of Manmohan Singh’s visits were to the West,” the senior diplomat explained.
“Many of our Arab language qualified diplomats prefer postings outside the
region and then there are limited resources, hiring a vehicle in Baghdad costs
$500 a day. House rentals have gone through the roof.”
the release of 39 Indian workers held
by suspected Islamists in Mosul. The
Ministry of External Affairs is reluctant
to share details about any breakthrough
so far but clearly, every effort is being
made.
But there’s little doubt getting Indian
nationals out of Iraq is straining
the country’s limited diplomatic
resources. Witness former ambassador
32
july 2014

to Iraq Suresh Reddy being sent back to
Baghdad when he was due to pick up his
next assignment. Other diplomats were
drafted in from Qatar, Saudi Arabia,
Jordan and Iran. There were even reports
of Indian Army officers who were on
training assignments in Iraq being
directed to try and establish contact with
the Iraqi Army officers they knew at that
time.
Insufficient “boots on the ground”
was evident in the lack of ground level
intelligence on Iraq. The big question
is how India failed to anticipate the
collapse of the Iraqi army given that the
Islamic insurrection had been scaling up
in intensity and violence.
“If you look back, the UPA showed little
political interest in the region. Most of
Manmohan Singh’s visits were to the
West,” the senior diplomat explained.
“Many of our Arab language qualified
diplomats prefer postings outside
the region and then there are limited
resources, hiring a vehicle in Baghdad
costs $500 a day. House rentals have gone
through the roof.”
Add to that, “India has neither the
military presence in the area nor the
logistical capacity to try a ‘Boy's Own
Adventure’ intervention-and-rescue
operation with paratroopers,” said Shashi
Tharoor, former MoS external affairs.
“Since we do not have armoured vehicles
on the ground to move the rescued
nor be able to fly in the firepower to
overcome the insurgents."
Tharoor’s comments would appear rather
over the top. India traditionally has never
had a military presence in countries at
war unless as peacekeepers operating
under United Nations mandate. Iraq has
33
been in turmoil for the last decade and in
the assessment of top Indian diplomats,
is in a “state of civil war”. Fortunately,
Baghdad airport remains open and there
is an orderly evacuation proceeding via
civil aircraft.
But just to be on the safe side, India
continues to station a Delhi class
destroyer INS Mysore, at the mouth of
the Persian Gulf if an order to evacuate
Indians from the Iraqi port of Basra is
given. The air force can move its newly
acquired C-17 strategic transport aircraft
at short notice. The MEA also firmed
up arrangements with the authorities
Going by the MEA’s headcount, there
were around 10,000 Indians in Iraq,
with most of them in the still relatively
tranquil areas of central and southern
Iraq. But as the senior diplomat put
it: “You can expect bombings, maybe
suicide attacks in these places, so in
that sense there is really no safety.”
of neighbouring countries to use their
airports if required.
Going by the MEA’s headcount, there
were around 10,000 Indians in Iraq,
with most of them in the still relatively
tranquil areas of central and southern
Iraq. But as the senior diplomat put
it: “You can expect bombings, maybe
suicide attacks in these places, so in that
sense there is really no safety.”
The crisis in Iraq underscored an
unpleasant fact, that Indians and Indian
workers can be found in every and often
inhospitable corners of the globe. Indians
were evacuated from Libya earlier, also
from Lebanon. The experience gained
has been invaluable but it underscores
another fact, that India must develop
the tools and instruments to be able to
better anticipate such crises before they
happen.

Point
Out
GALLERY
GALLA
GALLERY
GALLARY
GALLE
1
It’s really shameful
for Indian Railway.
The railways
need to improve
basic amenities,
strengthening of
existing tracks and
modern signaling
system. All railways
stations and
compartments having
modern amenities.
2
34
july 2014

RY
GALLA
GALLERY
GALLARY
GALLERY
GALLA
ALLERY
3
4
35

Point
Out
BY INVITE
ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE KEY TO A
VIBRANT DEMOCRACY
Accountability is thus important as it ensures that public bodies are
performing to their full potential, providing value for money in the provision
of public services and instills confidence of the community in its government.
This is the basic tenet of a vibrant democracy. Democracy without
accountability is a body without a soul.
»»
VINOD RAI
Accountability is the obligation,
of those holding power, to take
responsibility for their behavior
and actions. It becomes even
more important when management of
public funds is involved. The government
spends a huge amount of money in
creating infrastructure, providing
services and running various schemes for
the welfare of its people. A large chunk of
the government’s money comes from tax
which is compulsorily collected from its
citizens. The government is, therefore,
obligated to work in the interest of
its citizens and deliver accountable
governance. It is answerable to public for
its policies, decisions and performance.
However, we need to appreciate
that accountability is not the sole
responsibility of government alone. It is a
requirement in the corporate sector too.
It also transcends into civil societies, nongovernmental
organizations and citizen's
groups. However, since government
collects moneys from the public and
spends on behalf of the public, such
spending does place an element of higher
accountability on government. Such
accountability requires that the actions
and decisions taken by public officials are
transparent and capable of withstanding
public scrutiny.
In a democracy ultimate power rests with
the people. For conduct of their affairs
they elect persons who will represent
them and they in turn constitute official
machinery, which is architectured
to discharge the policy decisions
undertaken by the elected representatives.
However, in a system of separation of
powers and constitutional checks and
balances, accountability ensures that
actions and decisions taken by public
officials are subject to oversight so as to
guarantee that government initiatives
meet their stated objectives and respond
to the needs of the community they are
meant to be benefitting. The concept
of accountability involves two distinct
stages viz answerability and enforcement.
The former refers to the obligation of the
government, its agencies and officials
to provide information about their
decisions and actions. It enjoins upon
them to justify these to the institutions
of accountability tasked with providing
oversight. Enforcement suggests that the
institution responsible for accountability
can sanction the offending party or
remedy the contravening behavior.
Accountability is thus important as it
ensures that public bodies are performing
to their full potential, providing value for
money in the provision of public services
and instills confidence of the community
in its government. This is the basic tenet
of a vibrant democracy. Democracy
without accountability is a body without
a soul.
36
july 2014

The conventional wisdom of good
governance is premised on the basic tenet
that democratically elected governments
will conduct public affairs with probity
and accountability. However, public
perception seems to be that recent actions
of government, which have come in the
public domain, indicate that elements of
ethics and integrity seem to be lacking.
This has triggered the feeling among
the vast majority of urban citizenry
that it is time when the conventional
architecture, along which governments
are expected to function, needs to be
tempered such that there is an element
of participation by the informed public.
In the present age, governance has
assumed such critical proportions that
it appears too important to be left only
to the government. The stakeholders in
governance have expanded beyond the
executive, legislature and judiciary to
civil society, social organizations, media
and the public. Apart from the base
expanding, each new stakeholder has
become very vociferous and demanding.
This certainly portends a maturing of
Indian democratic forces. How much
the political class and administration has
realized this factor and is willing to come
to terms with it, is too early to predict. It
is clear that citizens seek a dialogue - a
dialogue in which they can participate
in governance and will be calling the
government to account. This is indeed
the old order changing, yielding place to
the new. The era of a new, discerning and
demanding class of citizen, has come to
stay.The citizen calling the government
to account and seeking transparency in
policy formulation is the emergence of
the voice which hitherto was considered
to be that of the silent majority. This
voice is now seeking to develop a new
moral and ethical frame work which
should be put in position to guide the
citizenry and its elected representatives
in future to ensure the accountability of
decision makers.
A basic premise of parliamentary
democracy is that an elected and
accountable political executive, with the
assistance of an elaborate bureaucratic
structure, would manage public affairs
within the restrictions imposed by the
Constitution and Law.
There are very distinct signs of the
Urban Indian middle class mobilizing
themselves politically. There are also
signs of a tenacious assertion in this
mobilization. This mobilization is
debunking yet another myth viz. of the
white collar, urban citizenry unwilling to
take to the streets to pursue its cause. This
class of people had confined themselves
to living room discussions, TV debates
and maybe, college politics. They took
pride in not going to vote, looked down
at caste and regional politics and hence
were never sought out by political parties.
But this disparate group is aggregating. It
is uniting for a cause. It seems to feel its
strength. What stirred them? May be,
corruption at every government office;
a birth certificate, a drivers licence, a
hospital bed, a gas connection.
This urban middle class has grown up
respecting the system, institutions and
rule of law. The political establishment
seemed to subvert these and hence
the total disharmony between a
people and the government they voted
unto themselves. The need for able
governance with accountability has
never been so strongly felt as in the
present day world. While the developed
countries have to deal with the aftermath
of the economic slow-down, the
developing countries have to struggle
to ward off economic downturn, create
employment opportunities and meet
the growing aspirations of a demanding
The need for able governance with accountability has never been so strongly
felt as in the present day world. While the developed countries have to deal
with the aftermath of the economic slow-down, the developing countries have
to struggle to ward off economic downturn, create employment opportunities
and meet the growing aspirations of a demanding populace.
populace. Only efficient and effective
governance can meet these challenges.
It is increasingly becoming evident
that efficiency and effectiveness in
governance are not sustainable without
probity, transparency and accountability.
The culture of "the end justifies the
means" is becoming an increasingly
convenient cover for behaviour of
individuals, groups or governments.
But the implications of this individual
or collective conduct, are far reaching.
History is witness to the fact that any
dilution of morality has eventually led to
degeneration of societal values, pushing
the country into a quagmire from which
it takes ages to emerge. This leads to my
proposition before you: should ethics be
applied selectively? If so, who determines
the purpose, the justification and the
quantum? When does it stop being
convenient, and become inconvenient?
When from individual transgressions, we
move on to institutional transgressions?
A basic premise of parliamentary
democracy is that an elected and
accountable political executive, with the
assistance of an elaborate bureaucratic
structure, would manage public affairs
within the restrictions imposed by the
Constitution and Law. However, the
reality of complex politics in every
democracy is leading to convenient
deviations. A dominant culture of
adjustment has become prevalent, with
honesty and integrity being the casualty.
The most oft repeated statements by
public officials over a large number of
misdemeanors which have been reported
are, that the law would be allowed to take
its course. It is unfortunate that this is
exactly what does not happen and any
numbers of impediments are created in
the law taking its course. Enlightened
kings and vibrant democracies have been
successful and popular only because the
rule of law was allowed to prevail. This
is a very fundamental requirement if
we have to make the government of the
people, by the people and for the people.
»»(The author is former CAG. He graduated
from Hindu College, Delhi. He has a
Master Degree in Economics from Delhi
School of Economics and masters Degree
in Public Administration from Harvard
University, USA. He chose to study Financial
Administration at Harvard Kennedy
School in 1987 while he held the position
of District Collector and Magistrate in the
State of Kerala.)
37

Point
Out
Redefining Governance
THE GENERIC MAN
DR SHAMIT SHARMA
For a country like
India, that witnessed
a general increase in
lifespan coupled with
very poor medical/
public health insurance
facility, increasing cost
of medicines has hit
hard poor and well to do
families. At a time when
the country is looking for
ways to subsidize medical
treatment cost and
make it affordable with
experiments like the one
Karnataka government
did by tying up with Dr.
Devi Shetty’s Naranaya
Hrudayalaya and Andhra
Pradesh government’s
medical insurance policy
for poor, a bureaucrat
from Rajasthan made
waves by trying a very
simple experiment
-getting generic
medicines dispensed from
government hospitals.
38
july 2014

»»
p prakash
With public healthcare
facilities hardly existent
in India, common man is
forced to go to private and
corporate hospitals that are expensive
and ends up derailing average
household budget. Moreover, sharp
rise in price of medicines over the
years have made them unaffordable
to a major section of population. For
a country like India, that witnessed a
general increase in lifespan coupled
with very poor medical/public health
insurance facility, increasing cost of
medicines has hit hard poor and well
to do families. At a time when the
country is looking for ways to subsidize
medical treatment cost and make it
affordable with experiments like the
one Karnataka government did by tying
up with Dr. Devi Shetty’s Naranaya
Hrudayalaya and Andhra Pradesh
government’s medical insurance policy
for poor, a bureaucrat from Rajasthan
made waves by trying a very simple
What is generic medicine
A
generic drug is a pharmaceutical product, usually intended to be
interchangeable with an innovator product, that is manufactured
without a licence from the innovator company and marketed after the
expiry date of the patent or other exclusive rights. Generic drugs are
marketed under a non-proprietary or approved name rather than a
proprietary or brand name.
Generic drugs are frequently as effective as, but much cheaper
than, brand-name drugs. For example, paracetamol is a chemical
ingredient found in a number of brand-name painkillers, but is also
sold as a generic drug (not under a brand name).
Because of their low price, generic drugs are often the only
medicines that the poorest can access. The Trade-Related Aspects
of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement does not prevent
governments from requiring accurate labelling or allowing generic
substitution. Indeed, it is argued that competition between drug
companies and generic producers has been more effective than
negotiations with drug companies in reducing the cost of drugs, in
particular those used to treat HIV/AIDS.
39

Point
Out
As district collector and later Managing Director, Rajasthan
Medical Services Corporation, he ensured that doctors
stopped prescribing branded drugs, especially those working
at government hospitals, dispensaries and health centres.
Highly priced
C
rocin, Anacin, Saridon common medicine for headache, body
ache and fever. The common ingredient in these is paracetemol.
These tablets cost Rs 1.50 to Rs 2 per tablet. Whereas paracetmol
tablet as generic medicine costs hardly 20 paise.
‘Zentil’ a tablet used in children to get rid of worms in their digestive
track costs Rs 17 per tablet. The active ingredient in it is ‘Albendazol’
and its generic version costs hardly Rs 1 per tablet.
Experts differ but most suggest that use of generic drugs by patients
with diabetes, hypertension and cardiac problems can bring down
their monthly medical bills by one third.
Redefining Governance
experiment – getting generic medicines
dispensed from government hospitals.
Dr. Shamit Sharma, IAS, started his
experiment from Chittorgarh district
in Rajasthan where he was the district
collector and later in Nagaur district. A
young bureaucrat with full of energy and
a steely determination to bring about a
change in the lives of common man, Dr.
Sharma, a pediatrician went about his
task meticulously ensuring that doctors
prescribe generic drugs to patients with
common ailments.
Being a doctor helped, Shamit Sharma,
as he was very well aware about nuances
of major pharmaceutical companies and
effectiveness of generic drugs. An issue
that he had to confront the moment he
asked doctors to prescribe generic drugs.
His study and experience came in handy
as he effectively argued that medicines
worked on the basis of combinations
and chemicals/salts present in it and
not by company name. The notion that
branded drugs helped early cure was
simply a myth, according to him generic
medicines were as effective as branded
ones. Patented medicines are priced
high by companies in a bid to cover up
its R&D and other costs whereas generic
drugs cost only a fraction of it.
As district collector and later Managing
Director, Rajasthan Medical Services
Corporation, he ensured that doctors
stopped prescribing branded drugs,
especially those working at government
hospitals, dispensaries and health
centres. While generic medicines were
to be prescribed, the biggest challenge
before him was to make sure their
availability. He ensured that government
hospitals had cooperative drug stores
that kept sufficient stock of generic
medicines. In Chittorgarh and Nagaur he
set up about two dozen cooperative drug
stores from where drugs were supplied to
other parts of the state.
His second challenge was to get all
doctors in the district (whether attached
to government hospitals of private
practitioners) to prescribe medicines
with chemical names only. It was up to the
patient to buy either a generic or branded
medicine. After initial resistance doctors
fell in line and it turned out to be a very
successful programme.
For patients, medicine costs came down
40
july 2014

and more people started turning up at
hospitals. For the government there
were large savings on medicine purchase
by opting for generic medicines. It
was a win-win situation for both the
government and the common man.
The effectiveness of Chittorgarh
model in breaking the pharma cartel
and reducing cost of medicines led
government of Rajasthan to extend it
to entire Rajasthan. From here he went
on to script the free medicine project
of the state government. Today, not
only Rajasthan, but a number of states
have picked up Chittorgarh model
and have made policies encouraging
use of generic medicines from public
healthcare facilities.
Dr. Sharma became a household name
after he was telecast on Satyamev Jayate
a programme hosted by actor Aamir
Khan on the drug cartel and medicines.
For his successful intervention as a
bureaucrat, Dr. Sharma was presented
the Award for Excellence in Public
Administration, by Prime Minister Dr.
Manmohan Singh in 2010.
Dr. Shamit Sharma, IAS
Group General Manager, Rrajasthan State Mines & Minerals Ltd.,
Udaipur
Dr Shamit Sharma is an IAS officer of 2004 batch hailing from
Rajasthan cadre. Born in 1972, he completed his MBBS and
completed MD in paediatrics from Rajasthan. He practiced at different
hospitals of Rajasthan for nearly five years before taking up IAS
exam. His wife is also a doctor and they have two kids.
As an officer who believes in working for the betterment of people
in the country, he started surprise inspections of development
works and government offices while he was posted as collectors in
different districts. Besides, he inquired about welfare schemes and
beneficiaries and kept his office open for public grievances. People
who came to him with problems were attended and he used to call
other officers to ensure that the issues were sorted out in a timebound
manner. A list of all such complaint and issues were maintained
and he himself would follow up on their progress from time to time.
This had endeared Shamit Sharma with the common man where ever
he was posted and places like Nagaur and Chhitorgarh saw huge
public outcry when he was transferred.
41

Point
Out
Govt Watch Movers & Shakers
• Rina Mitra likely to be new
NICFS chief
Senior IPS officer Rina Mitra is likely
to be appointed as the new Director
of the National Institute of Criminology
and Forensic Science (NICFS).
Mitra, a 1983-batch Madhya Pradesh
cadre officer is Inspector General in
the Bureau of Police Research and
Development (BPRD), where she
heads the National Police Mission.
She would remain at the top post of
the premier institute under the Union
Home Ministry, which awards degree
in criminal and forensic sciences.
Mitra had earlier served in the Wildlife
Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) when
it was created under the Environment
and Forests Ministry and also
credited with cracking some of the
difficult cases there. She had also
served in the CBI for over six years
and Railway Board apart from holding
various posts in her parent cadre.
• Rajesh Kishore is Secy General,
NHRC
Government of India has appointed
Rajesh Kishore as Secretary
General, National Human Rights
Commission. Rajesh is an IAS officer
of the 1980 batch of Gujarat carde.
His appointmnent has been cleared
by the appointments committee of
the cabinet.
• Kumaraswamy appointed as Jt
Secy, Dept of Space
Appointments committee of
the cabinet has appointed S
Kumaraswamy as the Joint
Secretary, Administration in the
Department of Space, Bangalore
for a period of five years. He will
take over from A Vijay Anand an
IRS officer (Customs and Central
Excise) of 1980 batch, who has been
elevated as additional secretary and
financial advisor. Kumaraswamy is
an IAS officer of Uttrakhand cadre
belonging to 1991 batch.
• S Venkateswar is Chairman, PDIL
Director Finance, Projects and
Development India Limited S
Venkateswar has been selected for
the post of Chairman and Managing
Director, PDIL.
• Prasad is Special Dir, IB
Ashok Prasad has been appointed
as Special Director in the Intelligence
Bureau. He is an IPS officer of
Andhra Pradesh cadre of 1979 batch.
Prasad is likely to handle Kashmir
Affairs till December 2014 before
taking over as Director IB. He was
director general of police Jammu and
Kashmir.
• Jha is OSD to Rajnath
2 002 batch, Uttarakhand cadre IAS
office Nitesh Kumar Jha has been
appointed as Officer on Special
Duty (OSD) to Union Home Minister
Rajnath Singh.
• Ramesh Kumar is OSD to Gehlot
1999 batch IAS officer of Madhya
Pradesh cadre E Ramesh Kumar has
been deputed as Private Secretary to
Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Minister for
Social Justice and Empowerment.
42
july 2014

43
touching every aspect of the nation

Point
Out
IN FOCUS PSUs
GAIL ADOPTS NAGARAM VILLAGE
GAIL (India) Limited initiated
implementation of a slew of relief
measures for the affected families
and villagers of Nagaram. This is
following the tragic gas pipeline incident
in which nineteen people lost their lives
and several were injured. The compensation
of Rs. 20 lakhs per deceased and Rs.
50,000/- to each of the 19 injured, totaling
to Rs. 3.89 crore was handed over to
the district administration. Pending the
outcome of the enquiry set up both by the
Government as well as the Company, two
senior officials incharge of the regional
operations and maintenance of the pipeline
network have been suspended.
GAIL will bear the medical expenses of
all the injured persons and best possible
medical care will be provided. GAIL
B C Tripathi,
CMD, GAIL,
“GAIL (India) Limited
deeply mourns the
tragic loss of life
and property in the
unfortunate incident along the natural gas
pipeline of the company at Tatipaka in
East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
Our ED (Human Resources), Mr. Amit
Ray has been nominated as the nodal
officer for coordinating the relief and
rehabilitation measures and closely work
with local authorities, Government and
villagers”.
NTPC : 4000 MW POWER GENERATION
PLANT AT RAMAGUNDAM
NTPC Limited has agreed to set up 4000 MW Power Generation Plant at
Ramagundam adjacent to their existing units as an expansion unit. The Chief
Minister assured the NTPC Chairman and Managaing Director Dr. Arup Roy
Choudhury, who called on him today at Secretariat, Hyderabad that, the required
coal linkage for NTPC plant
will be taken up by the
Telangana government with
Government of India. He has
agreed to provide the required
land in Toto either from out
of the available land or from
acquiring from Singareni.
The Chief Minister also said
that the government will
undertake filling the mines
with ash. The Chairman NTPC
said that the work at the unit
will commence immediately
and first unit will be completed
within 39 months. Necessary
environmental clearances
will be obtained by Telangana
government for establishing
the unit.
Helpdesks have been set up at Apollo
Hospital & Trust Hospital at Kakinada,
KIMS Hospital at Amlapuram and
Balbolini Hospital at Rajahmundry, where
the injured are being treated. All facilitation
is being rendered to the family members of
the injured persons at these hospitals.
In the case of those permanently disabled,
Rs. 5 lakhs for each affected person shall be
put in a fixed deposit to enable subsistence
benefits through Monthly Income Schemes.
A detailed Plan of Action is being drawn up
for rehabilitation of the affected persons.
Meanwhile, food and temporary shelter
have already been arranged near the
affected site The loss of property as well as
crops is being assessed in consultation with
the district authorities and GAIL will be
extending compensation for the same.
BHEL: Rajasthan
gets new Power
Generating unit
Bharat Heavy Electricals
Limited (BHEL) has achieved
another milestone by successfully
commissioning another
250 MW thermal unit in Rajasthan.
The unit was commissioned at
Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan
Nigam Limited (RRVUNL)’s 2x250
MW Chhabra Thermal Power Project
(TPP) Stage-II, located in Baran District
of Rajasthan.
With the commissioning of this fourth
250 MW unit at Chhabra TPP, the
capacity of the coal-based thermal
power plant has gone up to 1,000
MW. BHEL has earlier commissioned
three units of similar rating at the Stage
I and Stage II of the power project.
Reposing confidence in BHEL’s proven
technological excellence, RRVUNL
had placed an order valued at nearly
Rs.9900 Million on the company, for
setting up two units of 250 MW each
(Units 3&4) as Stage - II expansion
project of Chhabra TPP.
44
july 2014

Point
Out
VILLAGE ROOTS
PEOPLE’S PANCHAYAT
»»
Chhavi Rajawat
December of 2009 the village elders
of Soda, a relatively patriarchal
society, visited my father in Jaipur
to put forth to him their desire of
wanting to unanimously appoint me as
their next Sarpanch. They, however, were
taken by surprise not just with my father’s
apprehension, but also his response that
clearly stated that he was neither going
to dictate terms nor take decisions for his
daughter. If they wanted to convince me, they
had to approach me directly and so they did.
My purpose in agreeing to become the Sarpanch was to play the role
of a facilitator – i.e., help bridge the gap between the government
and the village and provide a medium to the government to showcase
success of its schemes. In addition, also bridge the gap between
the private sector and the village to receive support in areas where
government is unable to provide a solution.
Their key reasons:
l Being a reserved seat for women: about
16-18 women wanted to contest the
2010 elections. This was a reason of
concern amongst the village elders since
it could lead to disputes and long-term
divisions within the village. They needed
someone from my family to keep the
l
village united.
Their faith in my family; respect for the
honesty and integrity; and knowledge
that my family would always stand to
support the village is what led them to
turn towards me the credit of which
went to my grandfather and my greatgrandfather.
l My village had not seen much
development in the twenty years prior
to my being elected as Sarpanch. During
these twenty years the condition of the
village had gone from bad to worse.
Prior to that, in the late 70s the village
roped in my grandfather in a similar
manner and unanimously appointed
him as Sarpanch. Brig. Raghubir Singhji
(my grandfather) had just retired from
the army in 1975. He had received the
gallantry award of Mahaveer Chakra
during the 1965 Khemkaran sector war
and was called “Savior of Punjab”.
During the 15 years that he was Sarpanch,
in spite of limited funding in those days,
he brought in all the major development
that the village had seen i.e. linking the
46
july 2014

village to highway, providing electricity,
providing drinking water supply to
250 houses through. An overhead
water tank, constructing girls’ middle
school and the high school, opening
primary health centre, plantation in
our designated forest area and other
parts of the village, etc. Just before
Brigadier: seed of development was
first shown by my great grandfather
Col. Ranjeet Singhji who was awarded
OBE (Order of British Empire) before
Independence.
I agreed to take the responsibility since I
had seen things deteriorating during the 20
years post my grandfather choosing to retire
from his role as Sarpanch of Soda.
My purpose in agreeing to become the
Sarpanch was to play the role of a facilitator
– i.e., help bridge the gap between the
government and the village and provide a
medium to the government to showcase
success of its schemes. In addition, also
bridge the gap between the private sector
and the village to receive support in areas
where government is unable to provide
a solution. What I felt was needed was
someone who could understand the need of
the village, mobilize the people and connect
We noticed that nearly 70% of the health issues were caused due to intake of contaminated
water and poor sanitation; construction of toilets was next on our agenda. Owing to lack
of toilets women suffer the most seeking shelter of darkness to relieve themselves in the
barren lands. Thus, often meeting with accidents, snake bites and waiting up to 14 hours to
protect their dignity. To reduce costs of the dry pit toilets, we procure raw material in bulk,
manufacture cement cylinders (for the pits) within the village and work with an NGO (whom
we requested to come and work with us in Soda) that helps us monitor the progress and
mobilize the villagers.
the dots. I am a firm believer of a bottomup
approach – it is vital to have the village
residents be the key stakeholders for any
initiative to be “sustainably” successful.
Upon announcing my name in the village
all but two candidates withdrew themselves
from the elections. One of these contestants
was from the family of the previous Sarpanch
while he, to divide the votes, planted the
other. The villagers, who wished to appoint
me unanimously, were disappointed, I on
the contrary was pleased since it provided
me an opportunity to see the election
process closely. While I didn’t spend a single
rupee during the campaign, the opposition
did. In spite of that the villagers made
me win with a thumping majority and in
the entire district, I won with the highest
margin. Villagers themselves carried out
my campaign as they had promised while
trying to convince me into becoming the
sarpanch. They even told me that I just
needed to visit the village for the panchayat
meetings to which I warned them that if I
commit then it would be a hundred percent
commitment. In addition, I also warned
them that I will play fair and would treat all
as equals to ensure the path of development
is paved for each and everyone.
During the process of the campaign, I took
47

Point
Out
the opportunity to meet all villagers in each
ward and hamlet and understand their key
issues. I had been visiting my village since I
was born hence, was aware of the challenges
but wished to learn what the villagers were
most affected by. I made it a point to speak
to the women separately to understand what
development they wished to see happen
on priority. Lack of drinking water, lack of
toilets, narrow filthy/waterlogged paths and,
barely receiving 4-5 hours of intermittent
supply of electricity were the women’s issues
on priority.
Upon our team of twelve members being
elected on February 4, 2010, we ensured we
went to each ward and thanked the residents
for having chosen us. We ensured that with
this process Panch members of other wards
were also introduced to the rest of the
village. Within the first two days of being
elected itself the women panch members
gained immense self-confidence, as did
their respective husbands who allowed their
woman to travel around the village with
me late into the evening freeing them from
their responsibilities of running household
chores which the husbands willingly took
over.
On February 10, 2010 we got the entire
village together to do shramdaan as a
token of initiating the process of de-silting
our main reservoir. That being our key
project to provide safe drinking water in a
Panchayat where “all” ground water had
been declared unsafe even for the purpose
of irrigation – owing to high levels of natural
contamination and salinity. Our only
solution was to conserve as much rainwater
as we could to provide a safer source of
potable water. In addition, the area had been
On February 10, 2010 we got the entire village to gather together to do shramdaan
as a token of initiating the process of de-silting our main reservoir. That being our
key project to provide safe drinking water in a Panchayat where “all” ground water
had been declared unsafe even for the purpose of irrigation – owing to high levels
of natural contamination and salinity. Our only solution was to conserve as much
rainwater as we could to provide a safer source of potable water.
declared a draught-hit zone and water was
essential.
In our very first meeting we announced
that even our panchayat meetings were
open to all and that the villagers had the
right to check any record and demand any
information from the panchayat office at
any time they so desired. We promoted
transparency and accountability. The
response in our first gram sabha was also
overwhelming and our panchayat meetings
continue to operate as mini gram sabhas as
well.
With the onset of summers when
government water-tankers would supply
drinking water to hamlets, we noticed that
many women who were out working or
taking their animals out to graze would fail
to benefit from such tankers. Our panchayat
thus, decided to install four tanks at different
places and hamlets. The tanker would first
distribute water to those present, then pour
the remaining water into these tanks with
taps so that when these women came back
home in the evening, they could fill water
for their respective family.
We then, with the help of the JEN at the block
level and a volunteer from Jaipur, made a
project report for our water conversation
project (de-silting and strengthening
of the main reservoir covering an area
of 100 acres) and approached the State
Government. While the then panchayati
Raj Minister Bharat Singhji and senior
bureaucrat, Tanmaya Kumar, tried to help
support our initiative, there was no scheme
that could take up a project of this kind
since machinery was required to excavate
the soil from the base of the reservoir. The
government engineers told us that even if
the entire village tried to de-silt the reservoir
manually they wouldn’t be able to do so
even in ten years – given the vast expanse,
depth and hardness of the soil. We were
thus, told to raise funds on our own to be
able to use the required machinery. We
had hoped to be allowed to dovetail with
NREGA to get more support and work on a
larger portion of the reservoir but even that
was not granted permission. With limited
time in hand before the monsoon set in
and, no support from the government nor
private sector I had no choice but to turn to
my family and friends with whose support I
collected Rs 20 lakh and excavated 10 acres
in time to conserve rain water. This was
48
july 2014

our first success which was later supported
by the then minister for Irrigation and
Principal Secretary Ram Lubhaya, who
sanctioned Rs 50 lakh to help construct
a safety wall at one end of the reservoir to
protect the adjoining hamlet’s mud-houses
from being washed off with the overflow
of water. Of those Rs 50 lakh, Rs 25 lakh
was utilized to construct the safety wall,
which now protects many mud houses from
collapsing and paths getting flooded during
monsoons. Just this year (2014) we have
had Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages Pvt.
Ltd. fund a portion of our main reservoir.
JCB is supporting our initiative of reviving
another section of the reservoir and helping
in protecting our pastureland that will see
plantation on a large scale this year. With
the support of Akaar Charitable Trust, two
check dams have been constructed in two
different reservoirs to conserve rainwater.
With the initial success of reviving the
reservoir and, quality of work visible the
faith the villagers had in me was further
strengthened. It helped me mobilize villagers
to be more participatory and provide
We have formed various clubs such as:
women’s club, children’s club, youth club,
adolescent girls’s club, farmer’s club and
a neighborhood family club to provide a
platform for dialogues and to raise concerns
freely. These work as mini gram sabhas/
ward sabhas and have helped improve
community interactions and even had
people come together to contribute towards
finding solutions to common issues such as
water logging of common paths etc.
support in various other initiatives such
as removing encroachments on their own
accord from common passages to construct
concrete roads with drains. We planted trees
and tried to educate the villagers to stop
cutting trees and work towards maintaining
an ecological balance. We even appointed
a security guard in the designated forest
area who would water the new plants and
protect the area. The funds for this were
raised through the fishery contract: the 2010
monsoon was beneficial for it.
We noticed that nearly 70% of the health
issues were caused due to intake of
contaminated water and poor sanitation;
construction of toilets was next on our
agenda. Owing to lack of toilets women
suffer the most seeking shelter of darkness
to relieve themselves in the barren lands.
Thus, often meeting with accidents, snake
bites and waiting up to 14 hours to protect
their dignity. To reduce costs of the dry pit
toilets, we procure raw material in bulk,
manufacture cement cylinders (for the pits)
within the village and work with an NGO
(whom we requested to come and work
with us in Soda) that helps us monitor the
progress and mobilize the villagers. Our
village youth joins us in mobilizing villagers
and shares information on how to construct
the toilet. People have contributed in form
of labor to construct toilets in each of their
houses. Had the district disbursed the
funds efficiently we are certain all of our
49

Point
Out
900 houses would have had toilets by now.
However, funding from the private sector
including many individuals has helped
speed up the process and we now only
have about 250 toilets still pending. Upon
completion, each family that constructs
the toilet is given two saplings to plant in
their house/field to improve the ecological
balance within the village.
Various health camps have been organized
over the past few years wherein many
cataract surgeries have been carried out.
We have also organized camps with a lady
gynecologist visiting the village to focus
specifically on women’s health issues.
The children and youth of the village
volunteer in cleanliness drives at regular
intervals wherein they pick the spot of
their choice in the village. In addition an
individual from within the village has been
employed by the Panchayat to keep the
village streets clean.
The educated young girls were mobilized
to provide adult education for women. In
addition, the youth also provided support
to the Panchayat by regularly monitoring
Anganbadis and Primary schools thereby
helping improve the functioning of the
same. Reports are demanded of Anganbadis
at regular intervals during Panchayat
meetings. Some of the ward members and I
check the schools and anganbadis at regular
intervals and midday meals are tasted to
ensure the quality of food remains good.
Our girls’ middle school did not have
classrooms for the girls to sit in. They
were left to sit out in the open during peak
summers, winters and rain. The toilets were
not functional either. We shifted the school
to an older building which was repaired
through SSA’s funding of Rs 60,000 and
donation received from Barnard College
in USA. With the Support of PWD, we
hope the path to the school, which gets
waterlogged, will be improved. Courtesy
the department, a boundary wall has been
constructed around the school thereby,
providing the students an enclosed
playground. The boundary wall has also
stopped the appearance of snakes and
monitor lizards, which were seen crawling
into the classrooms during monsoons.
The Panchayat has made a gravel road
to the school for easier access. Through
SBI’s support we have installed fans in the
girls’ school, provided tables and benches
with support of Bosch Power Tools and,
provided a water cooler through Rotary.
With dialogues, constant checks and, by
providing a safer and better infrastructure,
enrollment of girls in the school has
increased. Similarly, in the High School,
and primary schools boundary walls and
toilets have been constructed. One of
the Anganbadi centres located “in” the
reservoir posed huge security concerns for
the children especially during monsoon has
been shifted to the old girls’ school building.
We have formed various clubs such as:
women’s club, children’s club, youth club,
adolescent girls’s club, farmer’s club and
a neighborhood family club to provide a
platform for dialogues and to raise concerns
freely. These work as mini gram sabhas/
ward sabhas and have helped improve
community interactions and even had
people come together to contribute towards
finding solutions to common issues such as
water logging of common paths etc. It also
provides a platform to discuss ill practices
such as child marriage; discrimination;
social issues and concerns; safety of children.
In February of 2011 we were able to get
a branch of State Bank of India opened in
50
july 2014

our village for financial inclusion; promote
savings; reduce the monopolization
of money lenders; improve delivery of
pensions; provide loans to students –
especially for girl education; farmers - many
of whom earlier were unable to benefit from
the Kissan Credit Card. BhartiyaMahila
Bank has come forward to provide loans to
self help groups.
Social welfare schemes have been given
focus to ensure beneficiaries receive the
required support. Visits to various wards
and hamlets were made to raise awareness
of the same and, the underprivileged
omitted from the BPL were added to the
list. To ensure fair supply of ration through
PDS, to stop the monopolization by a single
dealer we distributed wards amongst two
dealers and there have been no complaints
thereafter. In addition, reports and regular
feedback is taken from the dealers about the
quality of supply, amount and price that is
charged if any.
Various self-help groups have been formed
to provide alternate source of livelihood
in a village otherwise dependent only on
agriculture that is seasonal. Women and
young girls enjoy coming to the learning
centre where they have been taught the art
of candle making, making paper mache
products, handicrafts, stitching and, with
the support of I-Create we even have a SHG
which grinds spices. These products have
been sold by Asmat – an NGO formed by
students of Lady Shri Ram College that
I graduated from and, we have received
orders from other cities such as Mumbai
and Vishakhapatnam. Though, still at a
nascent stage, it has provided huge support
and confidence to women. We celebrate
their success especially on festivals e.g. on
Diwali, in particular, we organize a rangoli
competition at the newly constructed
common square where the winners are
given candles along with the prize money.
This initiative is also carried out to ensure
that villagers learn to respect newly
constructed common areas and build a
positive community spirit.
To improve the condition of electricity I
met minister Jitendra Singhji with whose
support, by end of 2010 itself, we saw
nearly 16 hours supply of electricity (single
phase & three phases) and got two hamlets
connected on the RSEB grid. For the three
hamlets that were not on the grid, we
provided them solar electricity with the
51
support of UNO Minda Group and nearly
70 households benefited from this initiative.
While these are some of the initiatives
carried out in Soda, there is much to be
done.
I wish the support from the private
sector were easier, I believe a multi-sector
partnership is essential to carry out an
effective development. Government plays a
very important role of course and I wish our
system were made accountable in ensuring
efficient disbursement of funds that, rarely
happens – siphoning off of funds is only
phase two of the problem which, give the
way our panchayat functions we have
not experienced. One can be honest and
still deliver, yes it is not easy but patience
and perseverance does bring its reward.
Information about the various schemes
needs to be shared with the villagers and
panchayats and team work respected
and celebrated. With such partnerships
and support the process of development
in the rural sector could easily speed up.
Panchayats and villages have to be seen as
the real stakeholders in the process of such
development. The bottom-up approach is
the only way forward.
» » (The author is sarpanch of Soda village in
Rajasthan)

Point
Out
»»
business bureau
MAHINDRA LAUNCHES NEW
SSANGYONG REXTON ‘RX6’
The Rexton is a high end SUV from
SsangYong, South Korea’s premium
SUV manufacturer which has been
a part of the Mahindra Group since
2010. The Rexton has been sold
in over 120 countries since 2001.
The 3rd generation Rexton, which
was launched in October 2012 in
India, is available in over 206 dealer
outlets across 150 cities.. The first
of its vehicles launching in India,
the Rexton is much more than an
automobile. Every component, from
the engine to the entertainment
system is state-of-the-art. Every
square inch of the passenger cabin
is plush and crafted. All to give you a
superlative driving experience.
Key highlights of the ‘RX 6’
model:
»
» Luxury & Comfort: High end dual
tone interiors, premium leather
upholstery, 8 way electrically
adjustable driver’s seat
»»
Performance: RX270 XDi engine
delivers Power of 162 bhp and
Torque of 340, 5 speed manual
transmission, Intelligent 4 x 4
Torque On Demand (TOD) system
with low ratio switch.
»»
Technology: Electric sunroof with
tilt/open function, Speed Sensitive
Power Steering, Memory functions
with 3 presets for driver seat and
ORVMs, Infotainment system with
Navigation, Automatic headlamps,
and Rain sensing wipers.
»»
Safety: Electronic Stability
Programme, Front and Side
Airbags, Anti-Slip Regulation and
Active Rollover Protection, Hill
Descent Control.
»»
The ‘RX6’ model comes in 4
attractive colours – Satin White,
Volcano Black,
»»
Moondust Silver and Opulent Purple.
The ‘New Rexton RX6’ comes with
5-speed manual transmission on the
2.7 L RX270 XDiengine and a range
of luxurious & high tech features.
The high end features include
premium leather upholstery, electrical
sunroof, 8-way electrically adjustable
driver’s seat with memory function,
automatic headlights, rain sensing
wipers and intelligent 4x4 Torque on
Demand (TOD) system. The RX6 is
targeted at customers who desire
high end luxurious features and at the
same time want to enjoy authentic
SUV performance with a manual
transmission.
The new Rexton RX6 uses a 2.7
litre RX270 XDi engine (5 cylinder
common rail, turbo diesel engine)
TEST DRIVE
SUPERLATIVE DRIVING EXPERIENCE REXTON ‘RX6’
The ‘New Rexton RX6’ comes with
5-speed manual transmission on the
2.7 L RX270 XDiengine and a range of
luxurious & high tech features.
which produces 162 Bhp power
and 340 Nm torque. The 5-speed
manual gearbox also offers an
intelligent and efficient 4X4 system
– Torque on Demand (TOD) with a
low ratio for serious off-roading.
The SsangYong Rexton by
Mahindra is currently available in
two models - RX5 and RX7.
The RX5 is an entry level manual
transmission model and the RX7
is the top end model with E-tronic
automatic transmission with
Mercedes BenzTMtechnology.
The Rexton has received a
good response in India and has
won several prestigious awards
including the Premium SUV of the
Year at the Bloomberg TV Autocar
India Awards and Economic Times
ZigWheels Awards.
Price:
19.96 lakhs
Ex-showroom,
New Delhi
52
july 2014

Price:
4.68 lakhs
Ex-showroom,
New Delhi
'CELERIO GREEN' : SMOOTH DRIVE
AND HASSLE-FREE MAINTENANCE
MARUTI SUZUKI INTRODUCES WITH THE ACCLAIMED
IGPI TECHNOLOGY
Best-in-class fuel efficiency of
31.79 km/kg of CNG lowers the
running cost
B
uoyed by the success of Celerio, car
market leader Maruti Suzuki India
Limited introduced Celerio Green,
the CNG powered Celerio.Powered by
the factory fitted iGPI technology (intelligent
Gas Port Injection) the Bi-fuel Celerio Green
delivers best-in-class Fuel Efficiency of 31.79
km/kg in CNG mode.*
The new variant of the Celerio Green is BS
4 compliant and uses the CNG fuel which
ensures that the overall emission level are kept
to a minimum while returning an impressive
amount of mileage at the same time.
Although nothing much has changed about
the hatch expect the additional factory fitted
CNG fuel tank at the boot of the car but has it
cut its way into the boot space which can be
a big concern for many and how much safe
is this new factory fitted CNG kit we will try
to find it all.
Manohar Bhat,
“Brand Celerio
has received
overwhelming
response from the
market. The idea of
introducing a bi-fuel CNG variant was to
strengthen the brand and offer more fuel
choices to the customer. We are confident
that factory fitted iGPI technology on the
Celerio Green will bring all the benefits
to customers such as smooth drive and
hassle-free maintenance and help us in
expanding the Celerio brand.”
With Celerio Green, Maruti Suzuki has
strengthened its CNG portfolio and offers iGPI
technology on six models, Alto 800, Wagon R,
Ertiga, SX4 and Eeco.
Maruti had Suzuki launched Celerio with the
revolutionary Auto Gear Shift technology
during Auto Expo 2014.Celerio Green will be
offered in all the seven Celeriocolours
53

Point
Out
LG-G3
“Simple is the New Smart”
LG
Electronics (LG) today
introduced to the world
its eager-ly anticipated
G3 smartphone, the successor to
the company’s well-received LG G2.
Developed under the Simple is the New
Smart concept, LG G3 is a culmination of
consumer research based on LG’s product
development philosophy, Learning from
You. The LG G3 was empowered with the
best of what current technology has to
offer, providing consumers with a user
experience more ambitious than anything
offered before by LG.
Highlights of the new G3 include:
»»
5.5-inch Quad HD display with 538ppi
with four times the resolution of HD and
al-most two times higher resolution than
a Full HD display
»»
13MP OIS+ (Optical Image Stabilizer
Plus) camera with a revolutionary Laser
Auto Focus that can shoot stunningly
sharp images in a fraction of the time
required by conventional phone cameras
»»
Polished metallic skin on the rear cover
that is lightweight, fingerprint-proof and
most of all, beautiful
»»
Floating Arc form factor that feels incredibly
comfortable in one hand and
incorpo-rates the innovative design heritage
of the Rear Key
»»
Redesigned graphic user interface
(GUI) consistent with the Simple is the
New Smart concept of the G3
LG’s reputation in the display arena is
second to none and the development of
the G3’s breathtaking Quad HD display
was the result of years of innovation in
display technology. With a pixel density
of 538ppi, the G3’s Quad HD display sets
new viewing standard pro-ducing images
GADGETS
that are sharper and clearer than traditional
smartphone displays. At 5.5-inches, LG G3
boasts a screen ratio of 76.4 percent with
thin bezels all around so the phone feels
as comfortable in the hand as a smaller
traditional smartphone.
The high resolution display on the G3
also required LG engineers to pair it
with battery technology that was just
as innovative. LG equipped the G3 with
a 3,000mAh removable battery and
advanced optimization technologies to
further maximize battery efficiency. By
replacing the metal in the battery cathode
with graphite, LG engineers were able to
extend the lifespan of the G3’s battery. The
result is a battery that can keep up with the
Quad HD display’s ultra-high performance
without losing steam in the middle of the
day.
Starting on May 28 in South Korea, LG G3
will begin rolling out worldwide on over
170 carriers. Additional details will be
announced locally at the time of availability.
Key Specifications*:
to 2.5GHz Quad-Core)
1440, 538ppi)
• Weight: 149g
• Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (up
• Display: 5.5-inch Quad HD IPS (2560 x
• Memory: 16/32GB eMMC ROM, 2/3GB
DDR3 RAM / microSD slot (128GB max)
• Camera: Rear 13.0MP with OIS+ and Laser
Auto Focus / Front 2.1MP
Battery: 3,000mAh (removable)
Operating System: Android 4.4.2 KitKat
• Size: 146.3 x 74.6 x 8.9mm
Network: 4G / LTE / HSPA+ 21 Mbps (3G)
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac,
Bluetooth Smart Ready (Apt-X), NFC,
SlimPort, A-GPS/Glonass, USB 2.0
• Color: Metallic Black, Silk White, Shine Gold,
Moon Violet, Burgundy Red
• Other: Smart Keyboard, Smart Notice, Knock
Code , Guest Mode, etc
APPS
KIK
Kik is an instant messaging app used by 120 million users, that is similar to texting but users have
multiple options of talking with individuals, with groups and within a social networking environment.
Users can also use Kik to send photos and files and send greeting cards. It combines texting with a
social network. Kik Messenger is similar to BlackBerry's Messenger, and iPhone's iMessage. It is the
most popular app in UK . The app is available on most iOS, Android, and Windows Phone 7 operating
systems free of charge
Whether you’re into games, music, celebrity news, or just chatting, Kik is the place to hang out!
54
july 2014

APPS
Education Dive
Education Dive is an industry dashboard designed to keep educators connected with information
that is critical to their jobs. If you are a teaching professional, this app will keep you updated
about all worldwide industry trends Itmonitors news worldwide, trending commentary and social
insights, stock market updates, jobs, industry research, and more. The editorial team selects the
most important, interesting, and relevant content for dashboard which gives readers a succinct and
coherent picture of their industry or sector. It takes 60 seconds, and give you everything you need to
know to stay ahead. And it is optimized for your phone, tablet and desktop computer, you can access
Education Dive from anywhere.
Price : Free
IMPROVING A PLATFORM: NOKIA X2
T
he latest member of the Nokia X family, the Nokia X2, not only delivers improvements
to the hardware design, but also the OS. “Straight off the bat you’ll notice that the
home screen has been enhanced. Instead of just three tiles side by side, there’s now
room for four,” explains TimoSaari, Delivery Manager at Microsoft.
Much like what’s already available on Lumia, the apps list contains all of the apps or games
that you have installed. Simply scroll through the apps, or use the search option to find the
one you’re looking for.
This helps to keep the home screen clean and clutter free, where only your most important
or most used apps can be found.
Homescreens, Fastlane, notifications manager and task manager all work together to provide
a richer, faster and easier to use experience
Other improvements in the Nokia X software platform 2.0 can be found in the control panel,
the new camera UI, Fastlane, and throughout the rest of the OS.
“Another area we improved upon is the virtual keyboard,” says Yannis. “We’ve rebuilt it from
scratch so it’s completely different to the previous version. It works much better and looks
nicer, too.”
“Because of the necessary hardware upgrades, the Nokia X software platform 2.0
won’t be available on Nokia X, Nokia X+ or Nokia XL. However, more updates will be
coming to further improve the experience of those devices in the coming months.”
APPS
Glucosurfer
W
Price: Rs.84/-
ith Glucosurfer.org your mobile
phone / smart phone will take
the role of your handwritten
diary. The phone is contacting Glucosurfer.
org via Internet communication. The web
site or App will ask for all the information
necessary to manage your diary online.
Diabetics count the carbs in their meals by
measuring or guessing their amount. This
amount is typically measured in bread
units (short BU) or gram. For every bread
unit a certain amount of insulin must be
applied. This amount is called BU factor
(or I:C respectively). With Glucosurfer.org
you can define BU factors for every hour
of the day. You enter the number of bread
units that you are planning to eat into your
phone. Combined with your current blood
glucose level the system will calculate
the insulin dose with your BU factors.
This recommendation can be accepted or
changed. At the end of the input process
the entry will be saved in the database of
Glucosurfer.org and can be immediately
analyzed.
55

Point
Out
56
july 2014

Point
Out
health
EYE CARE IN OLD AGE
reading and participating in sports such
as golf. The other symptoms are:
»»
the eyes are extremely sensitive to
glare and bright light
»»
the patient might notice a halo
around every light
»»
the colours seen by the person are
faded
»»
the person starts seeing multiple
images of an object (polyopia)
When people develop cataracts, they begin to have difficulty doing
activities they need to do for daily living or for enjoyment. Some
of the most common complaints include difficulty driving at night,
reading and participating in sports such as golf.
»»
DR. CYRUS M. SHROFF
Our eyes may begin troubling
us with advancing years. The
eye conditions that usually
accompany ageing are:
Cataract:
Cataracts are changes in clarity of
the natural lens inside the eye that
gradually degrade visual quality. This
eye condition causes clouding of the
eyes and the vision gets dim or blurred
with difficulty in seeing at night. When
people develop cataracts, they begin to
have difficulty doing activities they need
to do for daily living or for enjoyment.
Some of the most common complaints
include difficulty driving at night,
Cataract can be effectively treated by
surgery. Consult a doctor immediately
if you feel your eyes are having cloudy
vision
Glaucoma:
Glaucoma is a disease of the nerve of
vision, called the optic nerve which
conveys visual signals from the eye to
the brain. An increased level of pressure
inside the eyeball is usually the reason
behind Glaucoma. While everyone is
at risk for glaucoma, certain people
are at a much higher risk and need to
be checked more frequently by their
eye doctor. The major risk factors for
glaucoma include the following:
»»
Age over 45 years
»»
Family history of glaucoma
»»
Diabetes
»»
History of elevated intraocular
pressure
»»
Nearsightedness (high degree of
myopia), which is the inability to see
distant objects clearly
»»
History of injury to the eye
»»
Use of cortisone (steroids), either
in the eye or systemically (orally or
injected)
Farsightedness (hyperopia), which
is seeing distant objects better than
close ones (Farsighted people may
have narrow drainage angles, which
predispose them to acute [sudden]
attacks of angle-closure glaucoma.)
The disease is asymptomatic in general
with no symptoms early in the course
58
july 2014

of the disease. Visual field loss (side
vision loss) is not a symptom until
late in the course of the disease. Rarely
patients with fluctuating levels of intraocular
pressure may have haziness of
vision and see haloes around lights,
especially in the morning. As the
disease is asymptomatic, it is important
that the intraocular pressure is checked
on a routine eye examination. If a
person experiences pain in the eyes
accompanied by headache, vomiting
and nausea together with vision
changes, it is possible that Angle
Closure Glaucoma might be the cause
of the trouble. It is best to consult a
doctor immediately in this condition.
Age Related Macular Degeneration:
The eyes can also suffer from age
related macular degeneration. In
this, the tissue in the macula starts
getting dysfunctional. The macula is
responsible for providing the centre
of the visual field, reading vision and
colour vision. The degeneration of the
macula results in the appearance of a
blind spot in the centre. Mentioned
below are certain symptoms. If spotted,
the person should immediately consult
a doctor. Symptoms are -
Blurred or decreased central close-up
59
and distance vision (this is often delayed
because patients subconsciously ignore
the eye with worst vision prior to
development of the condition in the
previously good eye)
Blind spots, or scotomas, are a direct
result of lost macular function.
Straight lines look irregular or bent,
called metamorphopsia, and objects
appear a different colour or shape in
each of the eyes.
Objects appearing smaller in one eye
than the other, called micropsia may
also indicate a swelling and bulging of
the macula.
People with age-related macular
degeneration should check their vision
daily or weekly with an Amsler grid and
promptly notify their ophthalmologist
of any changes in their vision.
Retinal tears and retinal
detachment:
The vitreous turns more liquid and jelly
like with age leading to development
of Floaters. This eye condition causes
presence of spots and specks floating
in the vision field. These spots are
the cells and fibres covering the
vitreous. The condition may not be
dangerous initially, but if the floater
grow abnormally large in numbers and
the person starts suffering from light
flashes, then these might be indicative
of a vitreous separation from the retina.
This can lead to a tear in the retina that
can later lead to retinal detachment.
Prompt examination by a retina
specialist is required in such patients.
If a retinal tear is detected it is treated
urgently with laser.
Diabetic retinopathy -
diabetic retinopathy symptoms may
include:
Spots or dark strings floating in your
vision (floaters)
Blurred vision
Fluctuating vision
Dark or empty areas in your vision
Poor night vision
Impaired colour vision
Vision loss
Diabetic retinopathy usually affects
both eyes.
When to see a doctor
Careful management of your diabetes
is the best way to prevent vision loss. If
you have diabetes, see your eye doctor
for a yearly dilated eye exam — even if
your vision seems fine — because it's
important to detect diabetic retinopathy
in the early stages. Contact your eye
doctor right away if you experience
sudden vision changes or your vision
becomes blurry, spotty or hazy.
Mentioned above were a few common
eye conditions associated with old
age. It is essential that proper medical
attention is given on noticing any of the
above mentioned eye conditions.
In general, people older than 45 years
should have a complete eye examination
and then follow-up examinations every
two years.
» » (The author is
Medical Director of
Shroff Eye Centre.
He is MBBS &
MD(AIIMS), Among
the first in North India
to perform complex
Vitreo-Retinal Surgery
and pioneered the concept of true
Bimanual Vitrectomy )

Point
Out
ART & CULTURE
BAAGHIN
»»
POINT OUT BUREAU
A
group of enthusiasts named as the
Srijanee Socio-Cultural Association,
enthralled a few hundred Delhites
with their theatrical production
named ‘Baaghin’ staged at Muktodhaara
Auditorium, New Delhi. The group known
best as just Srijanee, working in theatrics
and philanthropy, have planned their
efforts towards environment through a
yearlong sensitization campaign reigning in
the stage, social media, public engagements
through kids’ competition and many more.
The nomenclature of the production gives
a subtle perception of the many strong
messages the show had in store. It was
a mix of various insensitivities towards
the environment, animals (read tiger
conservation) and the social craters that
Srijanee perpetuate. It is commendable that
a score of artists with ample support of the
backstage personnel, marvellously pulled
off a 90 minute edge of the seat production
in a language/ dialect many of us are less
verbal with – a mix of Bundelkhandi,
Haryanvi and Rajasthani - that too by artists
who know little of them as we do. The man
behind it, Dr. Avijit Banerjee who did the
direction and the playwright of the play did
a noteworthy job training the entire cast
with the dialect along with the apt body
language. The team says that although
visiting the tribal and jungle areas are a
part of their common interest, they have
been particularly wary for this rendition.
The stagecraft was done stupendously
well with a complete backwoods look – a
flimsy hut with tribal art, bushes etc. The
whole communication planning, starting
with pre-production posters till the
annual brochure of the group had been
meticulously crafted encompassing folk
arts, intrigue plot disclosure through the
synopsis along with benchmark write-ups
from intellectual dignitaries of the society.
As part of their efforts they supplemented
a section named ‘Vox Populi’ in their
brochure which gave public insights into
the initiatives. Adding to them the light and
sound effects, the rangmanch ensured that
the next one and half hours were surely a
tour of the jungle expanses. The production
had many highs but noteworthy were four
pivotal characters; Madam – the negative
shaded lady who tries to instil the greed
in the villagers; Tilu – the elder son of the
cluster’s head and also a clerk at Madam’s
office; Leela – the village woman, who post
fighting many odds, social and economical,
holds on to her will to make a difference to
the social apathies; Sukhiya – the sorcerer
of the village who closeness to nature and
animals tends to overpower the human
aspirations. These four portrayals chipped
in with regular bouts of messages with
profound expressions throughout the
play. By the end of the show, the tigress
met fatality but a noteworthy point was
conveyed – the victim, preserver and
the perpetrator, all are females. The XX
chromosome bearers hold the key to the
creation and destruction of the world and
the men are mere pawns who have been
more than capable to suppress the potent
capabilities of the women folk. Of all the
different punches that were being jolted
to the ruts of our society, the cruelty we
have doing to the nature, animals, women
and to ourselves - each one of them hit the
audience with a weeping response.
60
july 2014

ARIES: (22nd March- 21st April)
Financially, you will come across a number of options which will enhance your
monetary status. Professionally, external interference might cause you a
lot of anxieties in life and also be the cause of hurdles in your projects.
A woman might be the cause of worries affecting your matters of heart
adversely. Health needs to be taken care off lest it creates serious problems
in life later on. Avoiding travels during this month shall save you a lot of troubles.
LUCKY COLOUR : white.
TAURUS: (22nd April - 21st May)
This is a phase when you shall be involved into a lot of socializing and making
new friends. Love life blossoms amidst such busy social activities in your
life. Professionally, new projects might be delayed and might not show
expected results. Financially, there are sleep patterns being disturbed and
you might worry about your financial developments. However, there are
few family issues where you might feel let down and betrayed by someone close to
you during this phase. Travels are best avoided in this period. You shall be able to
recover all your problems by the end of the month.
LUCKY COLOUR: Green.
GEMINI: (22nd May- 21st June)
Celebrations in matters of heart take place along with dollops of romance and
happiness in your love life. Financially, you will feel restless and a feeling
of awkwardness seeps in your life. Professionally, there are subtle positive
changes that take place as the month progresses. Business trips shall be
pleasant and growth oriented. An extra effort from your end helps you
in rejuvenating your mind , body and soul. New beginnings in the family help in
strengthening the family bonds. A woman helps you in your travel venture. You might
feel a little restless by the end of the month.
LUCKY COLOUR: Dark green.
CANCER: (22nd June - 21st July)
Matters of heart shall be romantic and pleasant throughout this phase of your life. You
shall be in a pleasant and happy state of mind as the month progresses.
Old projects see the light of the day bringing back accolades and
appreciations. Legal matters turn in your favour too. However, a man with
a dynamic personality might be a trouble maker as far as your finances
are concerned. There are also possibilities of sudden expenses on an elderly man
during this period. Health issues might be problematic. Focussed travels shall be
successful and rewarding. You will be happy with the way things shape up by the
end of the month.
LUCKY COLOUR: silver blue.
LEO: (22nd July - 21st August)
A balanced outlook towards handling your finances helps in enhancing your monetary
matters. You will gain from your uncanny insights on share market this
month. However, the cards guide you to not to go overboard on them as
anything in excess might be harmful as well. Professional success shall
be good though there are still huge scopes for improvements throughout
this month. Love life will be romantic, pleasant and harmonious. You will be very
intuitive during this period and when you use it in your love life, it creates further
happiness for you. a fresh outlook towards your relationship also helps you in
strengthening your bonds .
LUCKY COLOUR: grey/ black.
VIRGO: (22nd August- 21st September)
Professionally, this is the time for transitions and taking up new projects. You will be
in a phase when a lot of changes are expected as the month progresses.
Times are favourable bringing you success and growth in your career.
Keeping your communication channel flexible will help in strengthening
the bonds in between you and your partner. Financially, there are some
renovation issues that might crop up and make the whole process very tedious.
Sudden health problems might catch you unguarded during this month. The month
ends on a positive note.
LUCKY COLOUR: orange / peach.
61
TAROT FORECAST
»»
Nandita Pandey
LIBRA: (22nd September- 21st October)
Health shall keep you in a fit shape throughout this phase of your life. Matters of heart
require you to be more practical, sensible and flexible in your approach
to enjoy happiness and harmony in it. An extra effort from your end is
the need of the hour to boost your professional prospects throughout this
month. Financial setbacks can be troublesome. There are few investments
which might take some more time to give you the required boost in life. You might
plan to visit your family, renovate your old house or property or might even make
plans to shift to a better locality. Homebound travels shall be pleasant and memorable.
LUCKY COLOUR: pink.
SCORPIO: (22nd October- 21st November)
New projects shall be rewarding and successful. This is an excellent time for you to
indulge onto new projects or think about expansions. Financially though
there are few investments which might give you expected returns. Financial
trips also need to be avoided in this phase of your life. ENT problems might
surface up during this month creating setbacks and lethargy. A man who is
a glib talker might be a trouble shooter in matters of heart. You should also enhance
your communications in order to express your love to your partner during this period
lest it goes unnoticed. Travels are best avoided during this month.
LUCKY COLOUR : Sea Blue.
SAGGITARIUS: (22nd November- 21st December)
Matters of heart shall be extremely pleasant and romantic throughout this phase of
your life. You enjoy mutual respect and understanding in your love life.
Professionally, you shall be in celebration mood as few of your projects
will deliver beyond your expectations. This is a high time for you to expand
your present line of work and think beyond it. Financially too good news
seeps in life bringing you good luck and monetary gains. Travels shall be favourable.
You might feel a little let down by someone close to you as the month comes to its end.
LUCKY COLOUR: orange.
CAPRICORN: (22nd December- 21st January)
New investments will be prolific giving you desired growth and boost in your
money matters. Financially, this is an excellent time for you to make new
investments. Professionally, there are average gains and growth comes
in easily in your life. However, there are still scopes for improvements
throughout this phase. Matters of heart indicate ups and downs in your
relationship throughout this month. Health needs proper handling and care. A child
in the family brings in happiness and harmony in life. Travels in the latter half of the
month shall be favourable.
LUCKY COLOUR: orange.
AQUARIUS: (22nd January- 21st February)
Matters of heart shall be pleasant and romantic during this month. Outings, holidays
and trips along with your loved one shall be pleasant and memorable
during this phase of your life. However, trips otherwise should be avoided
in this period. Professionally, new beginnings are indicated and there will
be plans to re do your office premises or renovate it. Financial setbacks are
likely to take place in this period and a careful handling of it is the need of the hour.
Health keeps you in a fit shape. You might build up new friendships while pursuing
a new health activity. Good news from the members of the family is also expected
during this period.
LUCKY COLOUR: orange / black.
PISCES: (22nd February- 21st March)
Matters of heart shall be extremely pleasant and romantic. You will spend quality
time along with your loved ones and enjoy every bit of it. Financially, there
are sudden outflow of money that might take place during this period.
Professionally, maintaining flexible communications with your team mates
and colleagues helps in achieving targets in time. Health of a child in the
family might be a cause of concern during this period. An elderly man in the family will
be very demanding during this period. Some one will help you by the end of the month.
LUCKY COLOUR: Emerald Green.
(Nandita Pandey is an internationally renowned and acclaimed Astro Vaastu Tarot Consultant, Spiritual healer and Past Life Regression Therapist based at Delhi. Email soch.333@gmail.com )

Point
Out
GOVERNANCE FOR GROWTH IN INDIA
BOOK REVIEW
SECRETS AND SECOND CHANCES
• By A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
• Price: Rs 146.00
• Publisher : Rupa Publication
A
s India chooses its 16th Lok Sabha in 2014, and voters across
the country are debating and discussing matters related to
governance and elections, this book, from someone who has
observed our national life at close quarters, is a visionary
statement for every citizen to read and understand.
Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, who was India’s eleventh President, and has been
a scientist, a technocrat, a teacher and thinker, brings his vast experience
and keen eye for detail to bear in discussing various aspects of governance.
He articulates a vision for India and what each citizen must do to make it
a reality—it is only by being honest, morally upright, and by working hard
that we can achieve the mission of a developed India. Dr Kalam also proposes
realistic, step-by-step solutions to issues of corruption, governance and
accountability. Optimistic, progressive and positive, he dreams of an India
that can achieve wholesome development for every citizen.
Farsighted yet practical, Governance for Growth in India is a timely roadmap
for every citizen to imbibe so that they can exercise their franchise in a
thoughtful, analytical manner and bring about real change in India.
About the Author
A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM
Born on 15 October 1931, at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, Dr Avul Pakira
Jainulabdeen specialized in Aeronautical Engineering from Madras Institute
of Technology. Dr Kalam is one of the most distinguished scientists of India
and has been awarded the Padma Bhushan (1981), the Padma Vibhushan
(1990) and India’s highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna (1997).
Dr Kalam became the eleventh President of India on 25 July 2002. His
focus and greatest ambition remains finding ways that will transform India
into a developed nation.
• By Anita Shirodkar
• Price: Rs 221.00
N
andita Dharkar, a strikingly beautiful and talented
architect, relocates to Mumbai from Delhi,
seeking new horizons and compelling explanations
about ghosts from her mother’s past.
As she revels in her newfound independence and forges new
friendships, her job at a prestigious architect firm brings suave
hotelier Aryan Rai into her life—and she falls hopelessly
in love with him. But when her best friend, the carelessly
handsome Aditya Arora, suddenly lands on her doorstep,
Nandita realizes how fickle the heart can be.
In the midst of it all, she is unable to forget the mysterious
letter she had discovered in her mother's jewellery box. When
she embarks on a quest to find out the identity of the letter
writer, shocking secrets about her mother’s past come to the
forefront. Will this shatter Nandita or will she heal through
forgiveness?
About the Author
• Publisher : Rupa Publication
Anita Shirodkar
Anita Shirodkar was the creative director (art) at Mudra
Communications and has spent twenty years in advertising.
She is currently creative consultant to a destination
management company that promotes tourism to India. She has
also forayed into food writing, including writing content for a
gourmet food store in Mumbai, and a cookbook which she has
designed, photographed and ghost-written for a nutritional
specialist. Anita resides in Mumbai and Dubai, where she
manages a business. This is her first work of fiction.
62
july 2014

KICK
TRAILER GARNERS
ALMOST 8 MILLION
HITS IN 6 DAYS!
CINEMA
K
ick’s promo has received over-whelming response from celebs as well as public. The
movie amassed tremendous buzz with its trailer, which also stars RandeepHooda,
Jacqueline Fernandes and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.
The film's first trailer has gone viral on Youtube for its high octane action sequences and
garnered 7.9 million hits.
The Indian superstar Salman is back in action after his previous movie Jai Ho's above
average performance and is all set to surprise his fans with a special Eid gift.
Even superstar Amitabh Bachchan seems to be impressed with the film and compared it to
Hollywood films in a twitter post. "Did you see the trailer of 'KICK'..baaadooom !! Compares
with anything that the other 'wood' brings out from their high end films !" he tweeted.
Khan is playing a masked super thief named 'Devil' in the SajidNadiadwala directed actionthriller
movie.
Earlier reports suggested that international teams were hired to work on VFX for Kick that
has been shot in Delhi, Dubai, Poland and Mumbai, among other places.
63

Point
Out
AAMIR KHAN: 'CONVICTION HAS
TO BE CERTAIN AND SWIFTER'
T
he horrific attacks oppressed caste women across India,including most recently,
the appalling gang-rape and hanging of two girls aged 14 and 15 in Badaun, Uttar
Pradesh, has once again brought the issue of women's safety to the forefront.
One of those deeply affected by these events, is Bollywood star Aamir Khan, who feels
that the issue needs to be addressed immediately. "Women's safety is a huge issue. The
conviction has to be certain and swifter, that's the only way forward. We need to realise
that we can't be stationing policemen and security personnel everywhere, as that will be
indicative of an unsafe society. We have to strive for a society where everyone feels safe
to walk on the road, even in middle of the night. Sadly, there is a lot that needs to be done
before we get there," says Aamir.
The actor emphasized the need to instil the fear of law in the heartof criminals. "We need to
tell the culprits that they will not be able to escape after committing a crime; that they will
certainly be behind bars. We have to make sure that the conviction of culprits happens not
20 years later, but in three months at the most," says the 49-year-old.
CINEMA
PREITY ZINTA RULES OUT SELLING KINGS XI STAKE
M
umbai Police have finished recording the statements of those witnesses who were sitting next to actor PreityZinta -- who has accused
her former boyfriend Ness Wadia of threatening her at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on May 30 - at the time of the allegedincident.
Amid Dispute With Ness Wadia, PreityZinta Rules Out Selling Kings XI Stake ,But one of the witnesses, an official of the Kings XI
Punjab team, reportedly told the police that he did not see what exactly transpired. He has told the police that he witnessed an argument over
the seats but did not see Mr Wadia misbehave, sources added.
Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria had said that a team of investigators is scrutinising footage from security cameras at the stadium
to see if the alleged fight was recorded. Zinta has said that Mr Wadia pushed her and abused her. Wadia has termed allegations “totally false and
baseless”. Wadia has also alleged in a police complaint that his company received threatening calls and texts from an underworld gangster
referencing the Bollywood star. The caller identified himself as fugitive underworld don Ravi Pujari. The police has since given security to
Wadia. Zinta and Wadia were in a five-year relationship till 2009.
64
july 2014

AMITABH BACHCHAN
IN TV FICTION SHOW
‘YUDH’
T
he legend Mr. Amitabh Bachchan is on a fiction show for the
first time. Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who is making his
television debut in the fiction format with ‘Yudh’, is taking
a keen interest in marketing and promotion of the show to be aired
on Sony TV.
'Yudh' is a story of a man who is invincible. It is the journey of
a man and his struggle with his collapsing health, his battle with
business rivals and his complicated family equations. It is journey
to emerge as a winner despite all odds.
Bachchan is paying attention to aspects like marketing and
promotion of the show and is meeting with the core team, sources
said today. Right from the promos that go on air to the edit, he is
overseeing things and also taking into account opinions of people
present on set, they said.
The show is directed by RibhuDasgupta and co-produced by
Amitabh's production company Saraswati Creations with Endemol
India, Yudh will be aired on Sony Entertainment Television from July
but the dates are yet to be revealed.
SHAH RUKH KHAN SET TO SURPRISE WITH
HIS DANCE PERFORMANCE IN
'HAPPY NEW YEAR'
F
arah khan who made SRK dance to Dard-e-Disco in Om Shanti Om is ready
to redefine Shah Rukh's status and make him a dancing star. She is ready with
her next project ‘ Happy New Year’. The film has a stellar cast which includes
DeepikaPadukone, AbhishekBachchan, BomanIrani and others. We hear the entire cast will
be showing off their best moves in the film. According to sources, the dance competition
forms the grand finale of the film and is a 20 minute sequence. Shah Rukh will be seen
dancing with Deepika andSonuSood, both of whom are skilled dancers. We hear that Happy
New Year will redefine Shah Rukh's status and make him a dancing star.
65

Point
Out
SPIRITUAL TOUCH
YOU YOURSELF ARE UNIQUE
»»
MORARI BAPU
I want to ask you, why do yoy want to become Special? Why? Why do you think that
you’re not special? I’m not coaxing you, I hold special attachment for the youngsters,
and neither is I answering ambiguously. Forget about being Special, understand the
words of my VyaasPeeth, there is no need to become Special, you yourself are unique
(virala) in your own way.
We all are collectively engaged
in a dialogue useful for life
about “Manas Gosai”. Few
good curiosities are also with
me, I will start right from there. It’s a
question from a youngster, “Karl Marx
has granted 2 thoughts about Religion
– one is, religion is the opium & second,
religion is the sigh of the oppressed
people. However, numerous contemplators
contemplate greatly only on the
first thought. Comment something.”
There was one more similar question
stating, “Some time it was said in Katha
that Religion is complete awakenedness,
and in this Katha by agreeing thrice to
the statement, ‘Religion is intoxication’,
your VyaasPeeth conjoined one more
thing & that is ‘Religion is intoxication’!”
However, this intoxication is an eternalintoxication
appearing from every soul.
And my Brothers & Sisters that which
appears from the soul is an intoxication
of infinite births & that intoxication itself
is spiritual awakenedness.
So, Religion is a constant unrestrained
joy. Whatever Karl Marx has said, he
has said in his own fashion. But this is
complete awakenedness; Krishnamurti’s
word for this is, ‘Awareness’.
Now, the next statement, Religion is
the sigh of the oppressed people. This
composition of words is although very
good; however VyaasPeeth will say
that Religion is a sigh (aha) as well as
wonderment (vaha). Please, listen calmly.
Religion is sigh as well wonderment. On
beholding any individual oppressed by
pain as a sigh sprouts in your heart then
its Religion or Righteousness. And, on
beholding somebody’s progress achieved
by his own diligent efforts, in any field , if
a wonderment of pleasure emanates from
your heart for them, then its Religion or
righteousness, as well.
Which is the Religion of Ram? ‘Begi
Paiahi pira Parai’. My lord’s heart grieves
in pain for those who’re sorrowful&
oppressed by pain, this is Religion or
Righteousness. And when the monkey
& bears formed a bridge over the ocean,
then Ram extols the progress of these
monkeys in wow& wonderment, He
says, ‘BalaTumhare Ripu Hayo’, by your
might I attained victory.
So, the wise intellectuals of my India says,
as a sigh arouses for the painful beings
then it’s a Religion or Righteousness &
not envying those who’ve progressed in
certain special fields, as one encourages
them by extolling their wow &
wonderment, then it’s also a Religion or
Righteousness.
There is one more question, which I want
to specifically address, “Bapu! As of now
I study in University. I want to become
‘Special’ (visesa), tell me its solution.”
I want to ask you, why do yoy want to
become Special? Why? Why do you think
that you’re not special? I’m not coaxing
you, I hold special attachment for the
youngsters, and neither is I answering
ambiguously. Forget about being Special,
understand the words of my VyaasPeeth,
there is no need to become Special, you
yourself are unique (virala) in your own
way. Unique means you’re peerless. For
instance, if it’s a child then, only that
child is unique in his own place, it need
not become anyone special.
What I’m speaking about is an ever
irrefutable doctrine of this Supreme
Existence. Here everyone is special in
their own-self. Reciter, is a reciter; listener
is a listener; all are unique. We’re losing
in comparison! Can you ever become
a child, how much ever you wish? Of
course, if the tendency becomes childlike
then it’s a different matter. I behold
every individual in their innateness. ‘Jo
Bhi Ho Tum, Khuda Ki Qasam, Lajavab
Ho’. I’m speaking from the bottom of my
heart.
So, the worry of being Special is a malady,
this malady will leave you ever troubled.
You’re indeed unique. A wheat plant is
of wheat; millet sapling is of millet; both
can’t be compared, both of them nourish
the society. We get into comparison.
66
july 2014

Point
Out
68
july 2014